Vice President of Product & Design

Vice President of Product & Design

Reporting to the General Manager, we are seeking a Vice President of Product & Design who is as passionate about craft and creativity as they are about building systems that scale. You will guide the design, merchandising, and product development teams across the full lifecycle from concept to delivery. You'll own the roadmap to grow our brand with intention, ensuring every piece we bring into the world reflects our values. You bring a clear product vision, a sharp eye for detail, and the ability to balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day execution. You will know how to build strong teams, lead with empathy, and keep momentum without losing the soul of what makes the brand unique. You will collaborate closely with our Founder and Creative Director, design team, and global partners to shape the next chapter of the brand's story.

The VP Product & Design sees product not just as what we make, but as how we tell our story, honor nature, and create lasting connection. This is an exciting opportunity to join a premium lifestyle and outdoor brand at a pivotal stage of growth. Our client blends innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship to create collections rooted in natural fibers and performance apparel, with a strong commitment to impact and storytelling.

Accountabilities

Product Vision & Strategy

• Define and articulate a long-range product vision rooted in the brand's mission and growth goals
• Establish and own the design philosophy, language, and positioning
• Build and manage a global product strategy across categories, channels, and customer segments
• Translate market trends, customer insights, and brand positioning into actionable product roadmaps
• Define seasonal calendars, pricing strategy, category planning, and SKU architecture to drive innovation and efficiency
• Collaborate with leadership to align product, creative, and commercial goals

Design & Merchandising

• Guide the development of seasonal collections that are elevated & innovative
• Lead silhouette, fabric, fit, and color direction across categories
• Optimize assortment planning across DTC and wholesale with a focus on productivity and margin
• Oversee category expansion using consumer insights and clear decision frameworks
• Collaborate with brand and marketing to infuse storytelling into the product experience
• Uphold our product standards, taste level, and commitment to creating top-tier product

Product Development & Commercialization

• Manage the end-to-end development lifecycle from concept to commercialization
• Champion innovation in natural fibers, trims, and construction
• Ensure all products meet performance, sustainability, quality, and margin goals
• Implement PLM systems and scalable workflows
• Build systems for fit consistency and accountability across development
• Lead vendor collaboration to ensure on-time, high-quality production

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with brand, marketing, and creative to bring product storytelling to life
• Align with supply chain and sourcing on costs, timelines, and ethical practices
• Work closely with wholesale teams to align calendars, segmentation, and pricing strategies
• Collaborate with local teams and artisan partners to maintain regenerative supply chain integrity

Team Leadership & Culture

• Serve as a core member of the leadership team, contributing to company vision, strategy, and culture
• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing product team rooted in creativity, clarity, and care
• Define roles, responsibilities, and success metrics to support growth
• Foster a culture of accountability, conscious leadership, and curiosity
• Support team development through coaching, structure, and growth opportunities
• Champion a working environment that reflects core values

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in apparel product design leadership
• 6+ years leading cross-functional product creation teams
• Proven track record of balancing creative vision with commercial performance
• Deep expertise in design, fit, construction, and assortment planning
• Expertise in natural fibers, outdoor/performance apparel, and sustainable materials
• Strong background in R&D and material innovation
• Global and artisan supply chain exposure highly valued

Location: This position is based in Denver, CO.

Salary Range: The base salary range for this role is $200-250K