Director Design Columbia Sportswear Richmond

Job description
We are looking for smart, courageous, barrier-busting Design Director talent. If you are a super-creative, self-propelled, slightly off-the-grid thinker with a why-not attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit, then Mountain Hardwear is looking for you.



We are a potent design culture that celebrates game-changing design and real, meaningful innovation. Our design department has high expectations around story-telling, concept development, and the promotion of new ideas focused on consumer insights and market white space.

General Position Summary

Work closely with Director of Product, Design Management and Product Line Management to lead the overall global design effort for the brand. Initiate and interpret new product concepts to meet the needs of our customers and professional athletes. Present seasonal creative direction to the Company’s leadership team. Manage designers and design projects to ensure that deadlines are met to reach Company goals.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities
Manage all design resources, either in-house designers or outside design contractors. Track all design efforts to ensure calendar adherence to corporate product creation calendar.
Responsible for executing seasonal creative direction and color palettes for the brand. Research industry and trade shows for new materials, colors, and design trends.
Research worldwide marketplace and interpret consumer and market needs as they relate to the brand. Work closely with category Product Line Managers and Design Managers to research athlete and consumer product needs. Interact closely with Sales and Marketing to understand product/consumer needs and work to initiate communication techniques that can educate retailers and consumers. Travel for consumer research and product testing.
Work closely with category Designer to collaborate on ideas and maintain seasonal design direction and execute on a consistent overall design language.
Responsible for the integration of innovations from inside and outside resources and work to ensure successful execution of these innovations.
Partner with the Commercialization Director to ensure commercial success of seasonal line offerings with a focus on fit and function. Partner with the Materials Manager to develop and source innovative and premium trims and fabrications. Partner with category Product Line Managers and Sourcing to ensure the execution of seasonal product briefs with designs that meet company target margins.
Responsible for inspiring creativity and encouraging new concepts that expand on the brand promise.
Create visual tools used to present at seasonal kick-offs, sales meetings, design reviews and pre-line meetings with buyers.
Lead creative sessions for project kick-offs
Motivate and influence creative team to constantly strive for excellence in performance.
Work with the Product Director to produce Key Performance Indicators that provide a holistic & balanced view of the team skill and productivity

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibility of all category specific Design Managers.

Specific Job Skills
Possess thorough knowledge of apparel design and development with technical attributes of performance; product materials and production techniques.
Possess knowledge of merchandising procedures. Possess knowledge of computer design software and specifically Adobe Illustrator and InDesign as well as the talent and ability to perform free hand drawings.
Possess well-developed ability to read, write and speak English. Incumbent has the ability to write technical material for clear product presentation and marketing. Frequent writing of highly technical material requires a thorough understanding of the work, and the ability to clearly express complex concepts in written form. Mental ability to conduct complex interpersonal interactions with employees and customers, troubleshoot, design, perform college level mathematics, coordinate and perform special task/projects simultaneously, make decisions, operate independently and with discretion, and work effectively under pressure.
Training skills are required when working with prototype production operations and subordinate employees.
Physical capabilities to sit for extended periods of time, bend, stoop, kneel, walk or stand for extended periods of time. Work with computer hardware and software including a keyboard. Must have excellent eyesight, including a strong sense of color.


Education And/or Experience
Requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent specializing in apparel or industrial design, fabric arts, or related field.
10 or more years garment and/or equipment design/development experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Outdoor industry experience is a plus.

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