VP of Design, Ann Mashburn

Job Description

Job Description

WHAT IS THE BRAND?

Mashburn is an Atlanta-based apparel and lifestyle brand launched in 2007 with a singular passion: taking care of people. The company designs, manufactures, and markets a nationally recognized assortment of menswear (Sid Mashburn) and womenswear (Ann Mashburn) alongside other high-quality, iconic brands. With a culture rooted in the values of Hopefulness, Helpfulness, Hard Work, Honesty, Hospitality, Humility, and Honor, Mashburn celebrates classic elegance with an ease and a warmth that invites others in. We want to be the world's go-to lifestyle shop – a place that embodies service and style, accessibility and luxury, and, for us, the very best of everything. Most excitingly, our story is still unfolding, and incredible growth opportunities lie ahead...

WHAT IS THE MINDSET?

• Do you believe that hospitality never takes a break?
• Do you believe that serving people, at its heart, is cool?
• Are you always looking for a way to not say 'no'?
• Do you value the success of the team over the success of the individual?
• Do you love clothes, love people, and love to have fun?
• Is your attitude worth catching?

WHAT IS THE JOB?

The Vice President of Design, Ann Mashburn leads design & product development for the Ann Mashburn brand, working closely with Mrs. Mashburn & reporting to the EVP of Design & Product. This person brings the brand's vision to life. The individual will be accountable for the product from concept to production to performance. We are looking for a proven leader with an ownership mindset and a willingness to roll up their sleeves.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES?

Strategy & Brand Direction

• Translate the brand's vision into a seasonal product strategy for Ann Mashburn, in partnership with the EVP of Design & Mrs. Mashburn, with the ultimate goal of growing the broader Mashburn brand and delivering on the company's financial ambitions
• Build strong collections that carry our point of view on how a woman could & should be dressing, grow the brand, & deliver on our financial goals
• Advocate for our dedication to quality, service, value and style in every piece that we make.
• Collaborate closely with Sid Mashburn design counterpart to keep the Mashburn aesthetic consistent across men's & women's & share best practices
• Partner with Merchandising & Planning online architecture thru category mix, SKU counts, pricing and good/better/best framework so the assortment is balanced, appealing and easy to shop

Design, Development & Lifecycle

• Partner with EVP of Design and Mrs. Mashburn on seasonal inspiration and concept direction
• Create designs, sketches, prototypes, & consistently bring new & innovative ideas to the line
• Own the process from market research, concept building, raw material selection to final approval, protecting design integrity & quality at every step
• Manage the Product Development Calendar & hold the team accountable at every milestone
• Partner with Technical Design on fit & quality & give clear direction in fittings to ensure our standards endure from Design through production to customer usage
• Develop product directly with our factory partners, from first prototype through production handoff

Leadership

• Lead by serving: mentor, inspire, & develop a team of Design Associates, & build a high-performance team that stays
• Create a culture of creativity, collaboration, & excellence in execution
• Keep communication clear & partnerships strong with internal Cross Functional Partners & vendors
• Demonstrate sound & candid judgment that builds trust with the Founders & the Leadership Team

Business & Financial

• Disciplined professional & fiscal management, including oversight of the Sid Mashburn design budget, headcount, product development logistics and sample costs
• Partner with Production & Raw Materials on costing & factory negotiation, that begins with quality & enhances margins

WHAT ARE THE SKILLS?

The ideal candidate possesses the following:

• A track record of success as a creative leader at a high-growth consumer brand, preferably in retail, apparel & accessories including leading a design team & developing product directly with factories.
• Must have experience in designing multiple categories – Collection base assortment
• An instinct for what people want to wear - anticipating where style is headed rather than following the crowd
• An excellent sense of style & color, & the ability to conceptualize a collection that feels unmistakably Ann Mashburn
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fabric construction, finish, & behavior, as well as patternmaking
• Exceptional presentation & story telling skills – able to present to large internal & external audiences
• Strong business acumen: comfort with line plans, cost sheets, margin math, & selling reports.
• Relentless curiosity about market opportunities & the technical side of product development across all categories
• Motivated by a supply-side design mindset
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), PLM systems, & Microsoft Office, including working fluency in Excel.
• Skilled in sketching by hand or digital
• A tireless work ethic & a passion for excellence, and an ability to thrive in a fast-paced deadline driven environment
• A strong portfolio of work is required

*This role is onsite in Atlanta. GA 5 days per week and salary will be based on experience and overall fit.