VP Design - Knits & Sweaters - Talbots

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Creative Director, the Vice President of Design for Knits and Sweaters will oversee the creation and execution of original concepts and have the ability to understand merchandising, sales and branding components to successfully deliver a strong assortment.

What We Offer:

• Growth! Here at Talbots our goal is to give you the opportunities to grow with us. Our Performance Feedback Program allows for healthy career conversations and goal setting throughout the year.
• Condensed Work Week! If we have no work obligations and have fulfilled our 40-hour week, our Life-Work balance approach allows for us to start our weekend at 1pm on Fridays.
• Complete Benefit Package! Our benefits kick off the first day of the month after your start date! Discover more about our full benefits package here. We have competitive time off, including paid time to volunteer within the community.
• Merchandise Discounts! Our associates receive 50% off Talbots and select Haven Well Within brand items. Additionally, you may also be eligible for discounts at the brands across KnitWell Group.

The salary range for this position is $240,000 - $260,000.

What You’ll Do:

• Create and innovate seasonal design direction and translate brand vision into strategies that deliver sales and profit growth.
• Implement design process and identify key opportunities to expand strategy around product category assortment while maintaining brand consistency.
• Develop, drive, and present seasonal concepts including materials, prints/patterns and fabrics that enhance apparel collection.
• Collaborate with cross-functional peers to translate brand vision into strategies that achieve merchandising sales and gross margin plans.
• Partner with VP, Sourcing/Product Development to ensure quality, delivery, and cost support product life cycle pyramid.
• Establish relationships with agents, vendors, and third parties to ensure innovative development of product that meet cost, delivery, and quality initiatives.
• Influence team by providing positive leadership, creative problem solving, and development to build bench strength and succession planning.
• Create and innovate seasonal design direction and translate brand vision into strategies that deliver sales and profit growth.
• Implement design process and identify key opportunities to expand strategy around product category assortment while maintaining brand consistency. Internal
• Establish, build, and maintain positive, strong cross-functional partnerships internally (i.e. merchants, apparel design, production, sourcing, marketing and visual).
• Establish relationships with agents, vendors and third parties to ensure innovative development of product that meets cost, delivery, and quality initiative.
• Manage, lead, and develop a team that includes Designers and Assistant Designers

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10+ years’ experience in Design - Knits and Sweaters 
• Proven success working in branded, vertical retail environment
• Effective communicator with an eye on successfully managing expectations
• Proven ability to communicate and influence diverse level of talent to achieve results
• Strong leadership and management skills