Designer - Australian Defence Force

About Us

Workwear Group (WWG) is part of Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety a division of Wesfarmers, a top 20 ASX listed company with over 100,000 employees. Housed under the banner of Workwear Group, our three iconic brands - KingGee, Hard Yakka and NNT - have been in the business of delivering workwear since the late 1920's. 

We are the trusted partner in workwear solutions, manufacturing over seven million units each year. What sets us apart is our continuous investment in innovation, market knowledge, pioneering ideas and sustainability practices.

We work as one team. We put our customers first and are passionate about what we do. Joining WWG is an opportunity to thrive in an inspiring, safe, and inclusive community.

About the Role

In this role, you’ll play a hands‑on part in outfitting Australian Defence Force personnel, designing and developing a wide range of uniforms and equipment that are functional, high‑performance and compliant with ADF requirements.

You’ll translate user insights into innovative, commercially viable product solutions — sense-checking details, seeking out information, and problem-solving to ensure accuracy at every stage. While actively contributing to innovation, ideation and design strategy, you will confidently navigate day-to-day responsibilities including fittings, documentation control, photoshoots and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll work closely within a tight-knit team that genuinely values initiative, continuous learning, and delivering meaningful outcomes for those who serve.

What you’ll be doing

• Design and develop ADF product solutions that balance innovation, functionality and commercial viability
• Create and maintain accurate Technical Specifications aligned to ADF and relevant standards
• Conduct fittings and wearer appraisals to refine fit, comfort and performance for ADF personnel
• Proactively research new trends in fabrics, construction, materials, technologies, trims and accessories
• Review and re‑engineer existing products to improve performance, compliance, usability and efficiency
• Manage the design and development critical path, communicating progress and removing roadblocks
• Collaborate with Quality teams on compliance, wearer trials, risk assessments, testing and continuity
• Support costing and profitability by ensuring designs and materials meet target pricing and value expectations
• Create storyboards and presentation materials to showcase concepts to WWG stakeholders and the ADF
• Engage directly with ADF stakeholders through briefings, tenders, training and product reviews, and user trials.

Who we’re looking for

At our company, we value not only our great brands but also the people and teams that drive our success. In addition to technical skills, we seek team members who possess the following personable qualities:

• Strong work ethic and are committed to showing up for a team
• Openness to receive coaching and embrace self reflection and self growth
• Accountability for your actions, and emotions, and actively venture beyond your comfort zone
• Embrace innovation, take calculated risks, and inspire others to think outside the box
• Ability to build meaningful relationships, we prioritise our customers. Balancing commercial goals with customer satisfaction is key
• Ethical standards and demonstrating honesty and integrity in all interactions is fundamental to our team culture.

What we’re looking for

• Applicants must hold an Australian Citizenship for security purposes
• 3+ years’ experience in a Design role, ideally across corporate, workwear, performance or Uniform related apparel.
• Strong technical capability, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and the ability to produce accurate, comprehensive technical specification drawings
• Solid understanding of textiles, fibres, fabric properties, garment construction and general clothing manufacturing processes
• Proven experience working across the full product development lifecycle with high attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including offshore suppliers
• Comfortable balancing hands‑on tasks with strategic design work in a fast‑paced, highly collaborative environment
• Experience designing across multiple product categories and adapting to varied user requirements
• Ability to work independently, show initiative, problem‑solve, and seek clarity through sense‑checking and information gathering

What we offer

• The chance to join a great team of like-minded, hard-working people who are passionate about achieving our vision and the growth objectives of the company.
• Flexible working environment, allowing for work from home day/s each week.
• A competitive salary package and suite of benefits and perks, including a 50% discount on our brands Hard Yakka, KingGee and NNT and 5% Wesfarmers discount for Kmart, Bunnings, Officeworks and more.
• A tailored career and development plan, plus reward and recognition programs. Whatever your goals we’re here to support you on that journey.
• Our Wellbeing program, Thrive, with activities designed to support the Financial Wellness of our team, Celebrate Diversity, ensure we Get Physical and maintain Healthy Minds, including challenges, yoga, meditation and access to our Employee Assistance Program.
• We Learn, a dedicated hub for all things learning and development.

We actively work on creating a safe and inclusive environment free of discrimination. At Workwear Group we aspire to build a culture where diversity is celebrated, where Team Members feel a sense of “I Belong” and are empowered to bring their whole selves to work.

Workwear Group is a recognised Veteran Employment Supporter we encourage you to advise us of any prior service through the recruitment process. We value the unique capabilities, leadership and lived experience veterans bring to our workforce, and we are committed to creating an environment where their skills can thrive. 

You can follow us on LinkedIn or see our company careers page for more opportunities https://www.workweargroup.com.au/careers

​Thank you for your interest in Workwear Group. Due to anticipated high volumes of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We are not seeking support for this recruitment, our inhouse recruitment have got it! Thanks