Senior Designer, Leather Goods

Marc Jacobs•New York, NY

2d•$120,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

Marc Jacobs International, powered by the creative genius of Marc Jacobs, seeks a Senior designer, Leather Goods to join the Design team based in its New York City (SoHo) headquarters. This role involves leading the design and development of handbags and small leather goods, translating seasonal direction into commercially relevant products, and managing product development across multiple seasonal collections simultaneously. The position also includes supporting the Design Director, mentoring junior designers, and ensuring all design deliverables meet seasonal milestones and critical calendar deadlines.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, Industrial Design, or related field.
7–10 years of handbag or leather goods design experience within a luxury or contemporary fashion brand.
Proven experience leading seasonal handbag collections from concept through production.
Experience managing or mentoring junior designers, including up to two direct reports.
Strong understanding of handbag construction, materials, hardware, leather, and manufacturing processes.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across four seasonal calendars.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly creative, deadline-driven environment.
Strong presentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Excel.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to thrive in an environment where product is continually evolving through seasonal development.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of handbags and small leather goods from initial concept through production.
Create innovative silhouettes, seasonal concepts, hardware ideas, and product animations aligned with brand direction.
Develop compelling inspiration boards, trend research, vintage references, and competitive market analysis.
Translate seasonal direction into commercially relevant products with a strong understanding of color, materials, construction, and functionality.
Produce detailed sketches, CADs, technical drawings, and comprehensive tech packs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Review prototypes and development samples, providing detailed comments and design revisions throughout the product development process.
Collaborate with Product Development and factory partners to resolve construction, engineering, and cost challenges while preserving design intent.
Support the Design Director in managing the day-to-day organization of the handbag design team.
Help prioritize workload, balance seasonal projects, and ensure an even distribution of responsibilities across the team.
Supervise and mentor up to two direct reports, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
Foster a collaborative, positive, and highly creative team environment while maintaining accountability for deadlines and deliverables.
Monitor progress against seasonal calendars and proactively identify workflow challenges or resource needs.
Manage product development across four seasonal collections simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, creativity, and speed.
Ensure all design deliverables are completed according to seasonal milestones and critical calendar deadlines.
Organize seasonal line architecture, product animations, color-ups, presentation materials, and design archives.
Maintain Illustrator libraries, CAD files, technical packages, seasonal boards, and product documentation with exceptional attention to detail.