Design Director - Textiles

Overview:

The Design Director is a well-rounded designer with strengths in Product Development and Strategy with experience in the Contract Textile Industry. This position will manage the design process for a major textile line in the Contract Industry. S/he will manage the design process, from inception to launch, and will oversee both an internal and external team. The right candidate will have a strong sense of current and future style and trends and manage the design aesthetic standards for the company. S/He will also have a clear and effective voice in communicating with a range of individuals within the process.

Responsibilities:

• Manage 3-4 launches per year with approximately 5 products in each launch
• Create, execute, manage development calendar and timelines (both for internal/external teams and for each mill)
• Manage and give direction to internal design team
• Meet and communicate with Mills (currently work with 20 mills); have exceptional communication in relaying timelines and putting pressure on deliverables when needed
• Researching and cultivating new relationships with mills
• Lead strategic brainstorming and conception sessions for the textile brand
• Build a compelling marketing story with internal Marketing team around each launch and effectively communicate to Sales Reps and through presentations to the A&D community
• Training sessions with new and current sales reps; Effectively, knowledgeably, and enthusiastically discuss products and the story behind the concept
• Host studio visits from visiting reps and clients in the studio; set-up and present collections, Know the questions to ask and write up post-visit
• Working closely with an external team to create and develop the showroom for Neocon; Help with set-up and manning the showroom
• Creating power-point presentations for each launch as well as presentations for Best-of rotations throughout the year
• Research new and innovative materials

Qualifications:

• 5-10 years Design experience
• Strong managerial and communication skills
• Meticulous organization
• Proactive approach
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and simultaneously handle multiple projects
• Strong time management skills
• Experience working with a variety of mills
• Technical knowledge of materials and testing requirements for Contract market
• Must be okay with travel (every 2 months)
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint