Designer - Boots (women's) Job at NorthStar Career Directions in Irvine

The Designer (Boots) leads seasonal design direction and activities for the women's division. Drives seasonal development documentation for Exclusive Brands Design team, across multiple brands. In addition, the Designer communicates and builds internal partnerships with product development teams and externally with domestic and overseas vendors. Ensure design aesthetic and function meets consumer fashion and lifestyle needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partner with design, production and merchandising teams to develop and execute seasonal design strategies that meet financial goals
• Establish and lead design process for categories and brands as assigned; present design options for review according to seasonal calendars
• May lead associate and assistant designers for assigned categories, providing daily direction, feedback and ensuring work meets expectations
• Provide brand and category direction to associate designers to product CAD's, graphics, and pattern work as requested
• Ensure team completes tech packs prior to milestone deadline with all necessary information; communicate with factories ensuring relevant details are provided to produce samples and meet production
• Create and manage Presentation Boards, Line Sheets and Tech packs, including sketch, colorways, construction details, and specification sheet
• Follow most recent branding guidelines and corporate branding standards
• Oversee new style fittings, and prepare evaluation documents noting both overall fit confirmation or concerns, and specific comfort issues
• Ensure designs target price-points, categories, and silhouettes in accordance with margin requirements
• Participate and prepare for PD process milestone meetings
• Review all assortments to deliver consistent color, trend, and creative direction across targeted lifestyle to ensure premium brand positioning
• Partner with design leadership in seasonal concept to create commercially viable product; work with design leadership with seasonal trend and color analysis
• Review return goods with the sourcing teams identifying material or design flaws, and suggesting product improvements
• Develop collection that is consistent with brand and collaborating with the Design Director to meet margin targets
• Follow seasonal merchandising plan by delivery and review with Design team to translate and support business needs
• Create, publish, and maintain the Seasonal Line List for review by Exclusive Brands leadership
• Partner with vendor, designer, and project management to ensure materials, design details, and footwear are within cost parameters while providing value to the seasonal line
• Demonstrate high degree of professionalism in communication, interactions and teamwork with customers, peers and leaders
• Adhere to all local, federal and state laws in addition to Company policies, procedures, and practices

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in industrial design or equivalent experience in footwear design and product development
• Minimim 3+ years in footwear design, boots strongly preferred
• Proficient knowledge of footwear construction with ability to read blueprints
• Proficient knoweldge of MS Office, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, WebPDM and PLM
• Must be well organized, able to lead multiple projects/seasons effectively
• Strong problem-solving skills, with an innovative approach to design
• Strong communication skills with the ability to give feedback and direction
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to travel internationally