Director, Men's Design (Denim)
- 6-Month Contract, goal of perm conversion
- $70/hr
- On-site, New York City
About The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and creative Director, Men's Design to lead the design vision and execution across our Men's business, with a primary focus on denim and accessories. This individual will play a critical role in shaping seasonal assortments, driving innovation, and delivering compelling, customer-focused product that aligns with brand aesthetic and business objectives.
The ideal candidate is a strategic design leader with deep expertise in men's apparel and denim, a strong understanding of garment construction and costing, and a proven ability to inspire teams while bringing concepts to life in a fast-paced retail environment.
What You'll Do
- Lead the creative direction and seasonal design strategy across Men's categories, including denim and accessories.
- Create brand-right product that balances style, quality, customer needs, and commercial objectives.
- Drive the end-to-end design process from concept through final product approval.
- Develop and communicate compelling seasonal concepts, color direction, and design narratives.
- Partner closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Production, CAD, and Graphic Design teams to bring collections to market.
- Ensure product assortments align with brand standards, financial goals, and customer expectations.
- Conduct trend research, competitive analysis, and market shopping to identify opportunities and inform seasonal strategies.
- Provide strong leadership, mentorship, and development to a team of designers and freelance talent.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional organization, prioritization, and attention to detail.
- Present concepts, seasonal strategies, and product assortments to leadership and key stakeholders.
What We're Looking For
- 10+ years of apparel design experience, with significant experience focused on men's apparel.
- 5+ years of people management experience leading and developing design teams.
- Strong background designing within the denim category is required.
- Deep understanding of garment construction, fit, fabrication, wash development, and product costing.
- Demonstrated ability to translate conceptual ideas into commercially successful product.
- Strong sense of color, trend, and market awareness.
- Experience working within a corporate retail or apparel environment preferred.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Highly organized with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator and Photoshop.
Additional Information
- This position requires a minimum of four days per week onsite, with the broader team currently working onsite five days per week.
- The role will directly manage two designers and one freelance designer.
If you are a passionate design leader with a strong menswear and denim background and are excited to shape compelling product assortments while leading a talented team, we'd love to hear from you.
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