Director of Design and Development – Apparel
Massif is seeking an experienced Director of Design and Development to provide direction and creative vision for the Company’s apparel and textile development while sustaining and communicating the Company’s design aesthetic and high-level performance across all products. Support the Company’s vision, strategies, and goals by working collaboratively through the design process using problem solving, relationship building and creative and critical thinking. This position reports to the Company’s Vice President & General Manager.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Owns and leads the 10+ person design and sample making team through working with cross functional teams to create performance apparel that meets or exceeds our customer’s expectations
• Creates and presents new product concept roadmaps, product designs, and line plans based on comprehensive knowledge of customers, technologies, and performance apparel industry
o In collaboration with Sales, researches and tracks new garment technologies to support the Company’s strategic goals and objectives. Ensures all risks related to growth are identified.
o In collaboration with Textiles & Technology and Sales teams, exchanges information regarding market analysis, trends, new technologies, and customer feedback for market growth. Ensures all risks related to growth are identified.
• Participates in executive level strategic planning sessions
• Accomplishes department and company objectives by effectively managing the Design and Development Team and evaluating department activities
• Develops and coaches team members to establish ownership of individual roles and responsibilities to meet deadlines
• Drives development of and adherence to Company’s Garment Design Language to ensure integrity of Company brand strategy
• Drives the evolution of product concepts to commercialization to achievable business strategies
• Prioritizes garment development projects in relation to the Company’s strategic vision.
• Participates with Sales in discussions with customers relating to product and program opportunities relating to new designs
• Sources new trims suppliers and manufacturing facilities as needed
• Assists with the evaluation of potential Cut and Sew facilities in accordance with Company requirements
• Collaborates with Sales on target garment costing and pricing
• Works closely with Compliance and Quality Assurance team to define performance metrics
• Recommends annual department budget and manages to approved budget
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Performs all duties in accordance with Company’s Quality Management System
• Domestic and international travel required
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Design, or equivalent education or experience
• At least eight years of experience in designing men’s technical apparel, including at least two years of experience in apparel merchandising
• At least five years of experience managing people
• Visionary team leader
• Excellent understanding of patternmaking, sewing, outerwear/technical garments, line plan development, and process planning
• Excellent creative problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including ability to motivate, lead, negotiate and impact
• Strong project management skills with the ability to delegate when necessary
• Ability to write product specifications and be a technical resource for others
• Ability to organize and effectively prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines
• Strong leadership skills
• Collaborative team player
• Ability to influence without formal authority
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, including strong presentation skills
• Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers
• Strong computer skills (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Word, Excel, Outlook, MRP/ERP systems)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described are those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position is primarily a sedentary position, which requires frequent use of a computer monitor and keyboard. It requires frequent walking and standing. It requires occasional reaching, bending, and fine manipulation. It requires the ability to talk and hear. It requires color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors). There are no other special vision requirements. It rarely requires grasping and lifting up to 10 pounds
This position is in an open work environment with moderate office noise.
This position is in an open work environment with multiple sewing machines and moderately loud noise and vibration. This position requires work near equipment with moving parts and hot irons. It entails exposure to airborne particles related to fabric/fiber dust from cutting fabric.
This position occasionally requires driving a rental vehicle while traveling on Company business.
This position occasionally requires visits to manufacturing facilities, which may result in exposure to a variety of environments, conditions, and/or hazards which are not customarily part of the employee’s work environment, such as extreme temperatures, moving equipment, vapors, chemicals, and noises and vibrations.
To apply visit our website at www.massif.com/info/careers.
Massif is an industry leader in making advanced fabrics and protective clothing for professionals who work in extreme environments, from the U.S. military to wildland firefighters and law enforcement professionals. Our mission is to provide comfort and flame protection for people in the world’s most dangerous jobs. We accomplish this mission with integrity and a commitment to superior customer service.
The Massif team is hardworking and energetic, focused on doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Our employees appreciate the outdoors and pride themselves on understanding the needs of our customers. Massif is dedicated to supporting its team members’ whole-hearted engagement in accomplishing Massif’s mission by recognizing the need for work/life balance. Our team works hard and plays hard. We aspire to be contributing members of our local community and the communities of our customers such as the U.S. military.
Located in the beautiful resort town of Ashland in Southern Oregon, Massif offers a casual, open work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Massif is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by law.