Apparel Design & Development Manager- Johnston & Murphy

Job Summary

Job Responsibilities

• Own the product lifecycle for Johnston & Murphy apparel categories — focus of men’s blazers, outerwear, and pants — from concept through production and delivery.
• Lead the development and execution of seasonal product strategies, ensuring commercial relevance, brand aesthetic alignment, and profitability across all categories.
• Lead the development of seasonal design direction informed by consumer insights, fashion forecasts, and market trends, from initial inspiration through final selling tools.
• Oversee all phases of the product creation process—from concept development through commercialization—ensuring timely execution and delivery.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Design, and Technical Design to deliver on product vision and brand standards, making independent decisions where appropriate.
• Manage all pre-production, production, and post-production approval processes including fabrics, trims, samples, and technical development.
• Conduct ongoing market, consumer, and competitive research to identify trends and opportunities; compile and present findings to internal stakeholders seasonally.
• Manage vendor and factory relationships, ensuring on-time sample delivery and adherence to the development calendar.
• Oversee pre-costing, seasonal cost analysis, and margin problem-solving across all assigned categories.
• Deliver product presentations to store teams, upper management, wholesale partners, and internal teams.
• Manage buy meetings across all channels of distribution, including selling analysis, trend overview, and presentation of new development.
• Partner with Wholesale Sales to ensure alignment on calendar milestones and business needs.
• Support new business initiatives as assigned, including licensed and strategic partnership programs.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to junior team members; foster a collaborative, learning-oriented team environment.
• Manage seasonal booking processes and support in-season merchandise to drive the business.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Design, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive apparel product development experience; prior management or team lead experience preferred.
• Deep knowledge of the apparel product lifecycle, including design, technical development, sourcing, costing, and production.
• Strong commercial instincts with the ability to balance trend, brand aesthetic, and business performance.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple categories and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills; able to work collaboratively with internal and external partners at all levels.
• Proven ability to build and present compelling seasonal product stories to leadership and key partners.
• Driven and solution-oriented; confident making independent decisions on complex challenges.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).