Senior Manager of Technical Design

Role The Senior Manager of Technical Design will lead our growing team of technical designers and drive the development of market-leading petite fashion. Using data and technology along with craft and talent, this role will innovate our technical design and product creation processes. This role is about setting standards, refining fit and quality metrics, building a team of sterling experts and making our workflows as efficient as possible. Collaborating closely with different teams and with vendors, this role will shape product strategies that strengthen Short Story’s foothold as the market leader of fit and quality in petite fashion. Talent development and transparent communication are integral to leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration across the organization. Responsibilities Lead the growing Technical Design team at Story Story, specializing in petite fit expertise. Establish processes to maintain Short Story’s industry-leading position in fit and quality. Educate and coach the Technical Design team to enhance their skills and knowledge. Evaluate and stabilize processes and tools to execute product strategies efficiently (from fit blocks and grade rules to WIP and tech pack excellence). Drive innovation in technical design work, establishing best-in-class tools and resources to execute against product vision. Streamline development process to drive speed, bandwidth and accuracy; build scalable processes. Champion product excellence in fit and quality; deliver products that delight clients in fit, style and quality. Hold internal and external partners accountable for excellence across all fit and quality metrics. Partner with vendors to ensure products meet fit goals and quality standards in bulk production. Collaborate with product development and merchandising to achieve process and performance goals. Foster strong vendor co-creation partnerships with clear standards that are client-centric and efficient. Introduce innovation and leverage supplier expertise to build fit and product creation technologies. Leverage internal and external data to strengthen the technical design process and inform decision making. Prioritize talent development. Partner with leadership to evolve team structure, ways of working, and external partnerships to enable accelerated growth. Qualifications BA or BS preferred. 12+ years of experience in technical design and product development within Women’s apparel. 8 years of management experience, setting strategies and leading teams. Growth mindset and petite experience required. Expertise in the product creation lifecycle, specifically fit and patternmaking. Passionate about developing team knowledge in fit, patternmaking, quality and overall product knowledge. Process architect with experience leading teams through significant change. Strategic problem solver with data-driven decision making, AB testing, and iteration. Strong aptitude for data, metrics, reporting and analysis. Value vendor partnerships and ironclad industry relationships. Committed to continuous improvement and innovation to maximize team impact. Ability to lead through ambiguity and change with clear, influential communication. Excellent at identifying and developing talent to meet evolving business needs. Ability to travel domestically and internationally. This role is onsite in our San Francisco Office full time. Benefits Flexible Paid Time Off 401k with company match Healthcare, dental and vision benefits Opportunity to work with a dedicated and experienced founding team Opportunity to work at a Y-Combinator backed startup Catered lunch on Fridays and company events Short Story is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and a work environment free of discrimination and harassment for all employees and applicants. We work diligently to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Compensation Range: $95K - $200K #J-18808-Ljbffr Short Story