Senior Designer, Wrangler Western
Kontoor Brands, Greensboro, NC, United States
Who We Are:
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB) is the parent company of Wrangler, Lee and Rock & Republic, with owned manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Nicaragua. Kontoor also owns and operates over 140 retail stores across the globe. Our global company employs more than 15,000 people in 65 countries, with world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, and regional headquarters in Geneva and Hong Kong.
Job Posting:
Senior Designer - Wrangler Western Men's
Sr. Designer - Wrangler Western Men's: Become the Newest Member of Kontoor Brands
This position reports to the Category Design Director and is responsible for leading all design activities related to Wrangler Western Men's Denim & Outerwear. This position also leads the design of Wrangler product lines supporting all accounts targeted by Western Men's with product innovation that meets end result retail needs but stays true to Brand DNA. Lead designer on cross functional work streams to drive new, trend right and innovative product consistent with the merchandising brief. Responsible for developing the team competencies and expertise needed to meet organizational goals. Our team is looking for experience in Men's and Women's Denim & Outerwear. Experience in woven shirts is a plus.
Key Responsibilities:
- Creative Vision. Responsible for translating the Wrangler Brand creative vision to Wrangler Western Men's.
- Strong Individual Contributor: Creative, skilled designer who develops and delivers innovative, brand right products which meet lifestyle category and consumer business unit needs in cross functional work streams.
- Competitive Positioning: Owns creative aesthetic from concept to consumer for all product and assortment needs. Research emerging trends and styles and key influencer markets to strengthen brand image and maintain competitive positioning against key brand consumer targets.
- Brand Consistency: Ensures all assortments deliver consistent color, trend, and creative direction across targeted lifestyle to ensure brand positioning and brand equity objectives are intact.
- Style Ownership: Review and critique prototypes presented by product development. Discuss and strategize style changes and line enhancements with Merchandising.
- Issue Resolution: Review samples and resolve outstanding issues with design and costing. Troubleshoots product development related problems to maintain calendar deadlines.
- Market Ready Presentation: Manage the presentation of the collections to Sales and Merchandising. Provide seasonal direction to ensure vision is executed in the market.
- Visual Design: Lead the direction for styling and product cues, as well as seasonal guides for visual merchandising for all channels.
- Fabric and Fit: Leverage centers of excellence concerning all matters of fabric and fit.
- Special Makeup: Respond to key account assortment needs beyond initial seasonal line to maximize account opportunity.
Skills for Success:
- Skilled at managing teams with Design, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, CAD, flat sketching skills, and tech packs
- Knowledge of fabric construction performance, and any specific processing and treatments relevant to Men's product line.
- Understanding of global sourcing of fabrics
- Knowledge of product costing and product cycles
- Strong collaborator
- Excellent presentation and story-telling skills
- Proven ability to translate trends to specific targeted consumer needs.
Experience/Education:
Years of Related Professional Experience: 5 + years experience in leading creative vision for a brand and product category.
- Experience working for a denim brand, denim category, and outerwear
- People management experience, including leading a design team
Educational/Position Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in fashion or apparel design
Special Physical and/or Mental Requirements:
- Traveling required, including travel to Asia
Why Kontoor Brands?
At Kontoor, we offer a comprehensive benefit package to fit your lifestyle and our benefits are crafted with the same care as our products.
When our employees are healthy, secure and well, they bring their best selves to work. Kontoor Brands supports you with a competitive benefits program that provides choice and flexibility to meet your and your family's needs - now and in the future. We offer resources to support your physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing, plus benefits like discounts on our apparel. Kontoor Brands also provides four weeks of Paid Parental Leave to eligible employees who are new parents, Flexible Fridays and tuition reimbursement.
Our Kontoor D&I Mission
At Kontoor, we believe thatD&I isa key enabler to aculturethat empowers us to work with passion and confidence, shaping our brand and future.
Our Kontoor D&I Commitment
- Create a global workforce of high-performing teams that both unlocks our individual uniqueness and harnesses our collaborative talents
- Ensure an equitable environment that attracts & promotes diverse workforce
- Foster inclusivity, ensuring employees feel they can bring their whole selves to work