Chief Design Director

Cavender's Boot City • Tyler, TX

6d

About The Position

The Chief Design Director is responsible for setting and leading the company's overall merchandise design vision across retail environments, brand expression, and customer-facing experiences. This role ensures that all design and product development efforts are cohesive, brand-aligned, and commercially impactful. The Chief Design Director provides strategic oversight, creative leadership, and governance to elevate the brand while supporting business growth and customer engagement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum of 10 years of retail experience, including senior-level leadership responsibility
• Proven ability to develop and execute brand-level design strategies
• Strong understanding of retail environments, customer behavior, and product line storytelling
• Demonstrated experience leading and influencing creative teams at an enterprise level
• Strong analytical skills and abilities, with retail business acumen
• Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills

Nice To Haves

• Passion for Western Lifestyle retail and a strong understanding of Cavender's customers
• Experience supporting multi-location or national retail brands
• Oversight of design across multiple channels, including in-store, digital, product, and marketing
• Portfolio demonstrating strategic design leadership and measurable brand impact

Responsibilities

• Support the “Cavender's Culture” and drive our Mission, Vision, and Values
• Establish and lead the enterprise-wide product design vision that supports brand identity, customer experience, and business objectives in a fashion/apparel/footwear retail environment
• Develop, maintain, and enforce design standards, guidelines, and visual systems across all channels
• Provide executive-level review and approval of major design initiatives to ensure quality, consistency, and brand alignment
• Partner cross-functionally to integrate design strategy into merchandising, marketing, retail operations, and growth initiatives
• Lead, mentor, and influence internal design teams and external creative partners
• Evaluate customer insights, retail performance, and market trends to inform design direction and innovation
• Ensure design decisions enhance customer engagement while supporting commercial outcomes
• Balance long-term creative vision with practical execution, timelines, and budget considerations
• Communicate design strategy, concepts, and recommendations clearly to senior leadership

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director