Free People Director of Technical Design

Urban Outfitters•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

URBN is looking for a Director of Technical Design for Free People. The Director of Technical Design will lead the Free People collection TD team, which includes all Technical Design levels from Associate Managers to Assistant TDs. This role will have regular touchbases with cross-functional partners in Product Development, Production, Design, and Buying, as well as working closely with URBN regional office partners. This role also partners closely with other TD brands, participating in regular meetings with the Senior Director of URBN Technical Design and TD Directors and Managers from FP Movement, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters brands to review department goals, resources, and technical design practices across URBN. This leader will build great teams and actively engage them (develops, coaches, sets expectations & provides feedback). Sets team goals and makes management decisions. Proactively mentors and coaches others. Monitors team workload and pivots as needed to adjust to business demands, including directly covering and processing as needed.

Requirements

10+ years of Senior Technical Design Manager experience or higher.
An experienced people manager.
Leader of leaders.
Extremely flexible and adaptable to handle a fast-paced work environment.
Ability to deal with quick changes in priorities.
Ability to guide and mentor direct reports in handling change management.
Expert in fit standards, construction, and tolerances in a variety of knit and woven apparel including denim, intimate apparel, structured wovens, outerwear, heavy weight knits, and soft wovens.
Expert level experience in dealing with multiple washes in both wovens and knits.
Advanced knowledge of garment testing and the effects of washes on specific woven & knit fabrics, specific fiber content, and trims.
Experience handling multiple overlapping calendars including wholesale and retail, chase and late add.
Experience with pattern making.
Experience with Clo 3D software and coaching teams using software to conduct 3D fittings live with design and buying teams.
Must be a proactive and excellent communicator who can handle working with multiple members of large teams and individuals of all levels.
Experience in traveling internationally, factory/production lines, and QA processes.

Responsibilities

Lead the FP TD team into continued digital transformation, building and growing their current 3D knowledge and refining best practices.
Ensure all teams can make decisions digitally while maintaining the highest priorities for brand fit and quality standards.
Closely monitor both digital and virtual samples.
Work cross-functionally with team members at all levels to develop strategy for the FP collection and execute on projects.
Regularly solicit and integrate supplier, process, and team feedback from stakeholders.
Drive decisions and manage team output to ensure all calendar deadlines are met or exceeded.
Determine solutions and arrange resources to fulfill plans of action.
Recognize operational weaknesses or roadblocks and proactively identify opportunities to improve quality and velocity of the team's work.
Exhibit high-quality feedback skills when dealing with cross-functional and regional office partners, helping others mature their feedback skills.
Set an example for cross-functional and regional collaboration.
Share relevant information and knowledge widely.