The Role
Lead River Island’s model and talent casting strategy across campaigns, brand moments, ecommerce, and video content. Build agency relationships, discover emerging talent, organize castings, manage bookings and logistics, negotiate rates, and oversee budgets. Use customer insight, sales performance, model analytics, and industry trends to guide commercially effective casting decisions. Collaborate with Creative, Production, Studio, Brand, and Marketing teams while promoting diversity, inclusion, and authentic representation.
Summary Generated by Built In
Come and join River Island at one of the most exciting moments in our story. As one of Britain’s best-known fashion brands, we’re building a bold, fashion-first future, and this is your opportunity to help shape how it looks. You’ll be at the heart of our creative world, working with brilliant talent and leading agencies to find the faces that bring River Island to life. It’s a fast-moving, influential role where you can make your mark, grow your career and help define the next chapter of an icon of the British high street. As Castings Lead, you'll combine creative instinct with commercial insight, using customer feedback, model performance and industry trends to inform casting decisions. Working closely with Creative, Production and Studio teams, you'll continually evolve our model strategy, ensuring our imagery remains relevant, inclusive and fashion-leading. This is a highly collaborative role requiring excellent organisation, confident negotiation skills and a passion for discovering and developing the next generation of talent. You’ll thrive here if you have an instinct for finding talent that excites both customers and creative teams.
WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
Casting & Talent
WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
Casting & Talent
- Own and evolve River Island's model and talent strategy across campaigns, brand moments & ecommerce.
- Be the go-to person for all things casting, sharing your expertise, influencing creative conversations and helping shape best practice across the wider team.
- Develop clear model briefs and secure the best established and emerging talent through strong agency partnerships.
- Excellent knowledge of models' individual strengths and performance styles, ensuring every casting is the right fit for the brief, from ecommerce to high-impact campaign and video content.
- Build and continually evolve River Island's model board by discovering emerging talent and ensuring every booking is a strong representation of our diverse customer to keep our creative output fresh and relevant.
- Organise casting days, go-sees and talent reviews, working closely with Creative and Production teams.
Commercial & Industry Insight
- Use customer insight, sales performance data, industry trends and model analytics to inform casting decisions, identify future opportunities & evolve the River Island casting strategy.
- Balance creative ambition with commercial priorities, making strategic decisions on where to invest budget for maximum impact.
- Monitor industry trends, competitor activity and emerging talent to ensure River Island remains ahead of the market.
- Manage the model booking budget, negotiating competitive rates and maximising value across all productions.
Delivery & Collaboration
- Work closely with creative, brand, marketing, and production teams to shape casting that delivers both creative and commercial impact.
- Take ownership of every booking, coordinating all logistics including schedules, travel, accommodation and agency communications.
- Maintain accurate booking documentation, contracts and call sheets.
- Continuously improve booking processes and contribute to new ways of working across the wider Production team.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- Significant experience in model booking within a fashion brand, agency or creative studio.
- Strong relationships with leading modelling agencies and a deep understanding of the commercial fashion industry.
- Excellent knowledge of model casting, production processes and industry trends.
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance creative vision, customer insight and budget.
- Strong negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
- Exceptional organisation, attention to detail and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for championing diversity, inclusion and authentic representation across all customer touchpoints.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
Skills Required
- Significant experience in model booking within a fashion brand, agency, or creative studio
- Strong relationships with leading modelling agencies
- Deep understanding of the commercial fashion industry
- Excellent knowledge of model casting, production processes, and industry trends
- Commercial awareness and ability to balance creative vision, customer insight, and budget
- Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
- Passion for diversity, inclusion, and authentic representation
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The Company
What We Do
Family owned from day one, we’ve been a big part of life on the UK high street for over 70 years. Today, still guided by shared values and a clear focus on our customers, we’re one of the strongest and most successful fashion brands around. And we’re changing like never before – exploring new ways to connect with our customers in person and online. And our talented Islanders are thinking differently about everything from products and stores to wellbeing and sustainability. The result is an energising culture you’ll love, work that’ll stretch you, a career you can build and a brand you’ll be proud to belong to. This is life on the island. Come and be part of it.
