Senior Apparel Designer

Columbia Sportswear • Portland, OR

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Apparel Designer is an influential team member in the design efforts to create original, function led, innovative designs that reflect the company's design ethos. Demonstrates proficiency in an area of design. Researches the needs and requirements of the outdoor consumer through trends in the market (color, style, retail), and any other end-use relevant activities. Responsible for a category of product and displays a strong creative point of view through concept creation, development (including tech packs, style reviews, and participation in fit sessions), color application, and full-sample validation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, applicable certification or equivalent experience.
• Typically requires 5-8 years of professional experience and strong competency with the various tools, systems, or procedures required to accomplish the job.
• Bachelor’s degree, applicable certification or equivalent experience.
• Typically requires 5-8 years garment design experience in the apparel industry.
• Displays the skills to solve complex problems and develops independent, creative solutions based on the evolution of multiple options.
• Possesses in-depth knowledge of apparel design principles, concepts and theories.
• Applies broader knowledge of apparel industry standards/ practices to category solutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Adobe Illustrator required.
• Displays a high level of business acumen and understands how the design function integrates within the larger company.
• Demonstrates strong understanding of key business partner functions, including development processes, merchandising procedures, materials, and production techniques and has high-level knowledge of the product creation process.
• Explains and simplifies complex design problems and works to build team consensus.
• Guides the coordination of information to ensure ongoing collaboration and program execution.
• Creates process optimization and seeks out efficiencies.
• Strong ability to work effectively under pressure and to maintain discretion and confidentiality.
• Demonstrates excellent time-management and prioritization skills while working on multiple projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with outdoor industry is a plus.
• A LINK TO DESIGN PORTFOLIO PREFERRED ON RESUME OR IN APPLICATION

Responsibilities

• Provides sketches and line art to communicate full category design concepts, including multiple views and detail sketches as necessary.
• Creates sketches with the consumer's needs in mind.
• Sketches exceed product brief expectations around pricing, function, and design aesthetic.
• Facilitates and leads cross-category design team meetings to provide design and concept board direction to communicate seasonal concepts.
• Represents design at in-person or online presentations to articulate seasonal concepts.
• Proactively develops and maintains open lines of communication with merchandising, materials research, product development, fit engineering and costing partners within the company.
• Proactively initiates conversation and takes responsibility for ensuring positive and productive working relationships.
• Leads in prototype process for assigned categories, which includes initiating early concept styles to drive seasonal concepts, initiating sample requests by working closely with technical designer and product developers, reviewing samples and directing revisions as needed throughout the development cycle.
• Actively participates in fit sessions and categorical team meetings as needed to facilitate process, revisions, and finalization of products.
• Maintains high level of knowledge in materials, textile, components, and technologies in marketplace and ability to create new models for enhancing product category.
• Works closely with materials research to define new material areas to research and ways to apply trend.
• Firmly comprehends market and competitive landscape.
• Possesses strong understanding of industry trends in order to gain inspiration and commercially translate to product category.
• Leads discussion of preseason design regarding seasonal trend application and cross-functional collaboration.
• Presents trends both in and outside of department for cross-functional alignment.
• Possesses a comprehensive understanding of target consumer.
• Leads development of the creative vision for a specified product category.
• Consistently creates innovative solutions and ensures innovation is a key consideration in majority of designs.
• Possesses a strong level of risk taking and creativity which translates to brand-driving designs.
• Able to solve problems that may be difficult in nature, operate independently and work effectively under pressure.
• Detailed oriented and can handle unique intricacies of the collections you are designing.
• Great at handling multiple active projects at once while adjusting priority levels, processes and approach.
• Successfully able to work cross-functionally with internal and external partners like brand partners, product development, materials research, production/sourcing and marketing teams, and trims and graph teams.
• An excellent communicator with skills to establish positive working relationships across various levels and fields of expertise.

Benefits

• Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match.
• Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).
• In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services.
• We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

What This Job Offers

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