Design Director

About the Role In this role, you will work in an energizing, inclusive, and creative environment focused on concepting and creating sustainable product that exceeds customers' expectations. Your goal is to partner with cross functional team members who collectively are responsible for ensuring that the product style, fit, and quality are more than worth the price for our customers. You will manage and direct a creative design team that is responsible for setting the overall global design direction for the Gap Factory Mens division. Must lean into risk taking and be customer curious! What You’ll Do Lead team through all aspects of the product design process, providing creative direction, coaching, and developing a motivated, high performing team. Research global markets in order to identify new seasonal trends, silhouettes, fabrics, techniques, product categories and competitive inspiration. Develop overall design vision and concept for product area, advocating and presenting strategies to internal leadership and cross functional partners. Develop strong internal cross-functional relationships with Merchandising, Production, Technical design, Gap Inc Sourcing (GIS), Visual Merchandising and Marketing to ensure product concept to store and site execution is a seamless customer experience. Partner with Production and Tech Design to create tech packs and communicate vision behind fit and product design, ensuring execution, quality, and desired margin targets are achieved. Collaborate and lead others in key design initiatives and their implementation. Responsible for planning, budget, and end results; set policies and strategic direction for design team. Who You Are Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative environment, with the ability to juggle multiple seasons at one time and track development deadlines. Ability to lead, influence and develop a high performing team of designers. Possess an elevated sense of style, aesthetic, and color and understand how to translate trends through the lens of the customer and brand filter. Drive innovation and identify opportunities for new silhouettes, fabric technologies, construction techniques, and finishing processes. Requirements Minimum 10 years of apparel design experience, preferably menswear, including at least 5 years in a people management role. Proven ability to create collections that incorporate core styles with innovative approaches while maintaining brand consistency across multiple categories. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and leading high-performing design teams. Strong technical skills including fabric knowledge, garment construction and git. Highly organized, detail oriented and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment. Flexible to seasonal travel overseas. #J-18808-Ljbffr