Design Director, Outerwear

About the role

This is a hybrid role based out of our HQ in Richmond, CA. In-office expectation is 4 days a week*

Responsibilities

• Lead the design team with a focus on continuously providing innovative, best in class product design solutions for review and potential implementation.
• Maintain goal of continuous product innovation and improvement.
• May participate as a senior member of a select product creation team to address early design and development concepts.
• Work collaboratively across the product creation team to define and develop new processes that enhance team efficiency in the commercialization process of innovative and inline products.
• Actively develop and grow knowledge of all garment construction techniques including the latest industry developments.
• Provide input across the product creation team based on being a technical expert in the assigned product area.
• Provide best in class design packages which include sketches, illustrations of construction details, and multiple product views.
• Lead by example in promoting a professional and positive team environment.
• Provide leadership to the design team through mentoring, coaching, and championing innovation in products and processes.
• Use market research, industry experience, knowledge of the Mountain Hardwear consumer, and brand positioning to provide a honed product feedback filter across the product division.
• Provide design/concept boards to communicate design and color direction.
• Present trip reports which contain visuals and written summaries of current trends pertinent to our industry.
• Lead by example in the effective utilization of the product creation team’s resources and work as a team member to ensure all timelines are met.
• Present category products and design/merchandising information during key meetings and line presentations.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to the design team, providing back-up support as needed, and continually demonstrate the ability to be a team leader.
• Work closely with merchandising and design directors in the evolution of the line plan and actively work to promote the seasonal product vision and brand positioning across the product division.
• Collaborate with Product Development to create and develop products that meet the merchandising product brief, brand vision, and target cost.
• Coordinate with trims developer to propose trims, graphic applications, prints and/or patterns (if applicable), and label designs.
• Participate in the prototype process for assigned category(s).
• Attend fit sessions and categorical team meetings as needed to facilitate process, revisions, and finalization of products.
• Work closely with Materials Research to define new materials to research and source.
• Actively develop knowledge of all aspects of material technology and pursue continuous improvement.
• Ensure continuity of seasonal fabric story for the product division.
• Work closely with Product Graphics to communicate seasonal product themes and identify product graphic needs per style.
• Lead by example in ensuring that communication with the graphic teams is clear and effective and any product changes are communicated on a timely basis.
• Work closely with Sourcing to create styles that hit target costs.
• Work to ensure cohesive color merchandising by proposing color palettes for assigned category(s) and participate in the seasonal color palette creation, including defining lab dip needs and color-way development on a style-by-style basis.
• Work as a team member in identifying general color direction on a seasonal basis.
• May lead the design team for an assigned category to convey relevant look of products that drive Mountain Hardwear's point of view.
• Work closely with design senior management to lead seasonal design direction and implementation of brand vision and concepts.
• Perform related administrative and design tasks as needed.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in fashion or Industrial Design, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Eight plus years garment design/development experience in the apparel industry with progressively responsible experience for category creativity, development, and design.
• Strong ability to sketch and quickly communicate ideas in a visual format.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading a design team and/or providing the creative vision for a product category.
• Highly proficient with computer design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
• 3D CAD experience and proficiency is a plus.
• Soft goods design sensibility and knowledge of fabric and textiles.
• Excellent attention to detail, proactive work ethic, and proven ability to establish and maintain schedules.

Qualifications

• Passionate about the outdoors, camping, hiking, and climbing.
• Knowledgeable apparel design through the lens of the brand's target consumer.
• Excited about creativity, collaboration, and exploration.

Skills

• Computer design software proficiency (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.)
• 3D CAD experience
• Soft goods design sensibility and knowledge of fabric and textiles
• Attention to detail
• Proactive work ethic

Benefits

At Columbia Sportswear Company, we're proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.