The Design Director will be the senior leader for the Design team creating innovative performance apparel for the Outdoor Performance category (Snow, Trail, Water). This will include design, technical development and management. A vital part of this role will be to collaborate with other senior design leadership in other categories and act as a strategic partner in developing and instituting creative inspiration and direction for each season – setting trend in our growing categories. Another important responsibility of this role will be to establish a design aesthetic that is authentic to Under Armour (athletic/sport) in the Outdoor, Snowsports and Action Sports markets. To stay fresh, this role will lead the team on inspiration, trend and market research travel domestically and/or internationally.
Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:
Build, inspire and mentor a strong and unique team of designers focused on creating innovative, brand-right, trend-right and fresh product across all Outdoor Performance end-uses
Manage calendar adherence as this team works closely with Tech Design on the realization of product - refine and sharpen this model.
Manage budget for Outdoor Performance Design, including headcount, travel, and samples.
Analyze competitive landscape and user segmentation to develop a strong product roadmap.
Interact cross functionally with senior leadership in PLM, Merchandising, Footwear, Sourcing, Tech Design, Brand Marketing and other internal teams.
Come to the table with a strong point of view on creative issues while still having an open ear to opinions and suggestions.
Travel domestically and internationally to drive prototype delivery in addition to collection of inspiration, trend and market research
Critical Skills
Visionary leader – what is new, innovative and different that will set the bar
High communicator and strong relationship builder – able to manage key partnerships in multiple locations
Experience driving big initiatives across the finish line – detail oriented
Ability to pitch big ideas and build consensus across teams
Background in innovative performance product design
Professional Experience / Qualifications
The Design Director will be a visionary, strategic, innovative thinker with the ability to aggressively push our product to the next level. Professional curiosity and a minimum of 8-10 years of experience in increasingly senior product design and management positions are required. The individual will likely have deep experience with performance products, sporting goods and apparel design. Regardless of background, the Design Director will have a strong working knowledge of design, construction and textiles. He/she must have demonstrated his/her ability to create design solutions that meet consumer needs and also reflect our overall brand message and aesthetic in addition to acting as a change agent and entrepreneur. All these attributes will be evident through a proven track record of innovation and category growth.
The successful candidate will be an experienced leader who makes a strong personal presentation. The candidate must be able to create and communicate a clear, inspiring vision and translate that vision into a practical, results-focused action plan. Conversely, the successful candidate must also be able to define, construct, drive and build successful process and best practices.
Education
BA or BFA in Apparel or Graphic design required. 10+ years of design experience and 5+ years of management experience required.
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