Director, Color Strategy

Vuori•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

Director, Color Strategy will lead the color and print design function. This role develops an annual color strategy that ensures color synergies build with intention and balances color in both retail and ecommerce space. This role identifies key color trends and filters them through the elevated Vuori aesthetic to deliver a unified seasonal color across the brand. This role establishes clear workflows, defining timelines, and driving execution from concept through final lab dip approval. The ideal candidate has an elevated taste level while understanding technical aspects of apparel creation, understanding materials, dye process, and finishing techniques. Ideal candidates are highly creative, while analytical, detail-oriented contribution to structure, clarity, and systems that turn great ideas into high-quality results.

Requirements

12+ years’ experience in color, print, or surface design, ideally in fashion.
Strong understanding of color theory, print techniques, and production processes.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining clarity and focus.
Demonstrates agility in shifting priorities and responding to changes with a calm, solution-oriented mindset.
Skilled at guiding teams through change with steadiness, clear communication, and organized decision-making.
High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and color management tools.
Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

PLM experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Color & Print Creation Create an annual color strategy that balances color across all selling channels.
Partner with design leadership to define seasonal color intent, inspirational sources, and aesthetic direction.
Evaluate trends, consumer insights, and competitive landscapes to inform strategic color decisions.
Workflow & Timeline Management Establish and maintain clear workflows, timelines, and checkpoints for color and print processes.
Ensure color standards, palettes, and print assets are delivered on schedule and ready for key milestone meetings.
Key team members to the creative process, willing to roll up sleeves and do the work.
Collaborate with Design Ops and cross-functional partners to maintain calendar dates and remove roadblocks together.
Quality & Consistency Management Ensure all colors across the collection meet highest standards of execution.
Maintain and evolve the brand’s color standards, libraries, and digital tools.
Work closely with color development teams on ensuring color approvals and print signoffs are consistently meeting brand standards.
Ensure documentation is current, organized, and accessible across teams.
Process Improvement Continuously refine processes to increase efficiency and improve outcomes.
Introduce new tools, systems, or methods that enhance color and print workflow and collaboration.
Creative color strategy for annual view across multi-faceted apparel and accessories businesses.
Leadership Manage, mentor, and support color and print designers, fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration.
Provide strategic guidance on seasonal palettes, print direction, and color application across categories.
Strong public speaker, present palettes and color trends at key milestones.
Lead regular touch points to ensure consistency, cohesion, and alignment with brand vision and aesthetic guidelines.