Director of Technical Design - To $160K

Director of Technical Design Location: Midtown Manhattan, NYC Schedule: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-6:00pm | Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm (On-site) Salary: Up to $160,000 (Based on Experience) Level: Director Type: Full-time, On-site Department: Technical Design About Us RDG Global is a U.S.-based apparel design and manufacturing company with a strong international presence. We specialize in creating trend-right collections across multiple categories, including Juniors, Girls, Contemporary, Women’s Plus, and Activewear, under both proprietary and licensed labels. Our teams partner closely with major retailers to develop commercially successful collections that combine creativity, speed, quality, and market relevance. As a growing and highly collaborative company, we offer designers the opportunity to have meaningful creative input, direct cross-functional exposure, and hands-on involvement throughout the entire product lifecycle. Position Overview We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Director of Technical Design to lead our Technical Design department and oversee the technical development and execution of product across multiple apparel categories. This is a hands-on leadership role for a strong technical design professional with extensive knowledge of fit, garment construction, specifications, grading, patternmaking, production, and quality, with particularly strong expertise in sweaters and knitwear. The Director of Technical Design will manage a team of three direct reports and will be responsible for setting technical standards, providing leadership and mentorship, managing workflow and priorities, and ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout the technical design process. The ideal candidate must have significant experience working with major U.S. retailers, strong knowledge of retailer-specific requirements and standards, and the ability to effectively partner with Design, Production, Sales, Sourcing, overseas vendors, and factories. A strong understanding of sweater construction, yarns, gauges, stitches, knit structures, shrinkage, finishing, and fit is essential for success in this role. This individual should be a confident technical leader who is highly organized, proactive, solutions-driven, collaborative, and comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced apparel environment. Key Responsibilities Lead and oversee the Technical Design department, including direct management of three Technical Design team members Support multiple product and size categories, including Kids, Juniors, Missy, Petite, and Plus Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship, training, workload management, and professional development to the Technical Design team Establish and maintain technical standards, processes, procedures, and best practices across product categories Lead the technical development process from initial sample development through fit approval, pre-production, and bulk production Conduct and lead fit sessions, providing clear, detailed, and actionable fit and construction comments Review and approve specifications, measurements, grading, tolerances, construction details, and technical packages Serve as the senior technical resource for complex fit, construction, pattern, grading and production-related issues Provide expert technical guidance for sweaters and knitwear, including yarns, gauges, stitch techniques, knit structures, garment construction, finishing, shrinkage, and fit Review samples for fit, workmanship, construction, measurements, and overall quality Identify potential technical and production issues early in the development process and recommend practical, commercially viable solutions Partner closely with Design to maintain the intended aesthetic while ensuring garments are technically sound, production-ready, and appropriate for the customer Collaborate closely with Production and Sourcing teams to address construction, quality, and manufacturing challenges Communicate directly with overseas vendors and factories regarding technical specifications, fit comments, construction details, corrections, and approvals Partner with internal teams supporting major department stores, specialty retailers, off-price retailers, and national retail accounts Ensure products meet customer-specific fit, construction, quality, testing, and technical requirements Closely manage development and production calendars to ensure technical milestones, approvals, and deadlines are met Proactively identify, communicate, and resolve issues that may impact quality, costing, production, or delivery Review the work of Technical Design team members to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established standards Build team capabilities through ongoing coaching, feedback, and technical development Partner cross-functionally with Design, Production, Sourcing, Sales, and senior leadership throughout the product lifecycle Continuously evaluate Technical Design processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, consistency, and speed to market What We’re Looking For Bachelor’s degree in Technical Design Strong sweater and knitwear Technical Design experience required 10+ years of progressive Technical Design experience within the apparel industry Significant experience in a senior leadership or management role within Technical Design Extensive knowledge of sweater construction, yarns, gauges, stitches, knit structures, finishing, shrinkage, fit, and production Strong knowledge of garment construction, specifications, measurements, grading, tolerances, patternmaking, and fit Demonstrated experience working with product developed for major U.S. retailers Experience working with Kohl’s is strongly preferred Kohl’s Technical Design certification is a strong plus Strong understanding of retailer-specific technical requirements, quality standards, and approval processes Experience working directly with overseas vendors, factories, and sourcing partners Proven ability to independently lead fit sessions and resolve complex fit and construction issues Experience working across multiple brands, customers, and product categories in a fast-paced apparel environment Strong understanding of the product development and production lifecycle Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, and organizational skills Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and business needs simultaneously Highly detail-oriented, analytical, proactive, and solutions-driven Ability to balance technical excellence with commercial and production needs Strong computer skills and proficiency with industry-standard Technical Design and product development tools Experience with PLM systems and Adobe Illustrator preferred Mandarin language skills are a plus Why Join Us? Competitive salary Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), HSA/FSA Paid time off: Vacation, Sick Days, Personal Days, and Flex Holidays Short- & Long-Term Disability Commuter benefits Collaborative, inclusive company culture Opportunity to lead and develop an established Technical Design team Hands-on involvement throughout the full product development and production process Visibility and direct interaction with leadership and retail partners Opportunity to work closely with domestic and international partners An environment where technical expertise, leadership, and contributions can make a meaningful impact #J-18808-Ljbffr RDG Global LLC