Vice President, Design - Product

The Vice President, Design - Product will provide leadership and innovation for product design and development. This role will be responsible for ensuring that products are consistent with market trends as well as business strategy.

This is an on-site position based out of our Chicago, IL office.

A day in the life as Vice President, Design - Product...

• Develop the overall vision, strategy, and execution plan for the product development process to add diversity to the assortment
• Initiate and manage product development and design from concept to completion
• Work with the President, Merchandise Buying, Merchants, and Buying teams in a creative capacity, promoting the possibilities for new product based on knowledge of trend, materials and sourcing
• Oversee high-level direction and approve tactical, administrative or operational policies and resource allocation decisions to ensure achievement of objectives
• Provide creative direction for overall product development strategy by interpreting concepts and trends as they relate to market demands, company image and business strategy
• Create original design concepts to ensure products meet merchandising assortment plan, consumer expectation and price points
• Execute a well-strategized seasonal concept/color/theme into product development plan within calendar deadlines
• Analyze competitive landscape and user segmentation to develop a strong product roadmap
• Analyze current and past trends using relevant measurements
• Improve performance by evaluating processes to drive efficiencies
• Manage all aspects of performance and development of direct reports to encourage professional growth
• Collaborate with the Design, Planning, and all Merchandising departments
• Support and model excellent service to internal and external customers in all forms of action and communication
• Manage the overall control of planning, staffing, budgeting, expense priorities and recommending and implementing changes to business processes

What you'll bring to the table...

• An amazing breakthrough thinker to 'disrupt' and innovate
• Understanding of product life cycles, development and design
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the function, the competitive environment, technology and the economic implications
• Demonstrated experience in Product Development strategic planning with an outcome of successful implementation of plans and programs
• Influence long-term vision and strategy of the Design function

We'd love to hear from you if you have...

• 10+ years' experience in merchandising
• 7+ years of leadership experience, overseeing senior leaders and their teams
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; Master's degree preferred