Job Details
Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Soft Surroundings was founded in 1999. Since that time, the Company has grown into a thriving catalog and online retailer of women's apparel and accessories. We attribute our phenomenal growth to the passion our employees who provide our customers with not only high-quality apparel, home and beauty products, but the understanding that our customers are not just purchasing an item, but an experience.
Working at Soft Surroundings:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance first of the month following start date
- Competitive salaries
- 401(k) Retirement Plan Match
- Employee discounts
- Generous PTO, paid holidays, and sick leave
We are seeking a Design leader highly skilled in product creation that meets customers needs and lifestyle direction. Manage the execution of the design process from initial seasonal brand kick off, technical design turnovers, sketch reviews, outfitting and final presentation to customer. Must have strong skills to develop quality product that exceeds financial objectives of the company. Instrumental in setting the brand vision and product aesthetic.
Responsibilities:
- The role will lead, engage, direct, monitor, coordinate and manage the production lifecycle and the design team.
- Manage and strategically drive line assortment, offering perspective and ideas that bring the department and company forward in accordance with merch line plan, a balance of lifestyle and outfitting for seasonal design presentation/pagination.
- Lead, motivate and inspire design team to succeed with the training, tools, and spaces to be creative while executing to the brand vision.
- Design and development category ownership for tops from concept to execution.
- Manage design Milestones in accordance with the Corporate PLC.
- Use problem solving skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross functional partners using company and industry knowledge to make intelligent, data-driven decisions.
- Works closely with VP, Merchandising, Sourcing and Technical Design teams to ensure all designs meet the margin, fit, aesthetic and quality standards of the brand.
- Responsible for providing clear direction to the Technical Design process to ensure that all style requirements are met throughout the fitting process.
- Participate in brand seasonal pagination.
- Assist with Fabric trend launch in collaboration with Trend team.
- Work to ensure all samples, fabric and color approvals are on time and meet company standards.
- Assist in the management of fabric quality to ensure all fabrics meet quality expectations.
- Stay connected to the customer to better understand how to translate trends that are relevant.
- Manage apparel brand line and making sure it is balanced, trend right and wearable for the Soft Surroundings customer.
- Partner with Head of print/pattern and Color to create cohesive seasonal stories.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years' experience in Apparel product design and development.
- 5+ years' leadership experience preferred
- Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or equivalent preferred.
- PLM experience desired.
- Overseas factory experience required.
- Ability to work in a face-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
- Critical thinker with the ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Collaborative team player who can build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners.
- Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently.