DESIGN DIRECTOR / MERCHANDISER - Girls Outerwear & Swimwear

Girls apparel company is looking for a merchandising/design director who will be responsible foe the design, execution and merchandising of a major brand in both swimwear and outerwear.

The ideal candidate will have strong brand building experience, ability to identify and cultivate trends for a mass market, and have experience building collections in girls outerwear and swimwear.

• Responsible for building around the brand DNA and ensuring all product and development reflects the brand DNA and the target market.
• Consistently shop marketplace, competitively and for inspiration and product opportunities. 
• Oversee the product direction and execution across all classifications of the brand.
• Manage to a time and action calendar and ensure timely development of the line reflects style plans, client needs and emerging trends
• Partner with overseas factories to execute accurate and desired samples within financial targets of the brand.
• Sign-off on all production escalating issues as they arise.
• Partner with sales and creative teams to ensure that assortment reflects concept direction, sku plan and styling needs.
• Responsible for all approvals, corrections, updates and changes to the product line
• Lead the merchandising process. Work with Sales, Design and Merchandisings team to edit the assortment by style, by month, by color, by fabric, prints
• etc. ensuring all markets needs are met
• Oversee execution of the line plan 
• Work with internal teams to understand needs and growth opportunities related to category
• Continuously looks to innovate and improve our business and business processes
• Analyze daily, weekly and monthly performance identifying key styles and categories that drive sales and build off of successes.
• Lead design meetings
• Meet with buyers and lincensors on product development and approvals 

Requirments:

• 5+ years of related experience in Design and or Merchandising of outerwear/swimwear
• Must understand the girls outerwear/swimwear market
• Ability to manage from idea to execution
• Strong Merchandising sensibility, coupled with a commercial design eye
• Proven track record of growing businesses, identifying trends and delivering results
• Ability to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Experience and comfortable giving presentations 
• Excellent communication skills verbal, written and presentation
• Solid understanding of the marketplace and competitive landscape in off price, mass, Department