Senior Designer, Men's - Nordstrom Made (Hybrid, Seattle)

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

We don't just sell cutting-edge fashion and accessories; we create them. Our talented fashion design team, Nordstrom Made, develops, designs, produces, and sources all Nordstrom-brand products. From traditional to trendy, this team shapes the styles and looks our customers love. And now, we have an exciting opportunity to join this team. As a Senior Designer for one of our Nordstrom Made brands, you will lead a design team in the creative vision and execution of apparel designs that express the brand's DNA and each season's concept direction. Reporting to the Design Director, you will manage the design and development of multiple categories from concept through production approval and contribute directly to fabric, silhouette, and detail/fit/finish. Partnering with the Design Director to interpret seasonal direction, you will build curated, thoughtful designs that are trend-right and drive commercial results. The ideal candidate pairs an elevated design eye with strong executive function: someone who can track overlapping deliverables and keep multiple seasons and workstreams moving without losing sight of the details. You have experience across multiple apparel categories, know how to drive design development, and have a proven ability to develop design talent. Tailoring experience is a plus.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive apparel design experience (experience designing within an established American lifestyle or heritage-driven brand and experience designing in outerwear, tailoring, or structured wovens are preferred)
Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related field preferred
Experience managing, mentoring, and developing direct reports on a design team
Hands-on knowledge of fabric, silhouette, and detail/fit/finish development, with a highly developed taste level and point of view
An elevated design eye paired with strong organizational discipline: the ability to track overlapping deliverables and meet seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced environment, with close attention to detail and a track record of designing products that have delivered strong commercial results
The ability to filter, prioritize, analyze, and validate complex concepts and procedures across the product creation process, with deep expertise in garment construction, sketching, and fabric, and working knowledge of adjacent areas like merchandising and product development
Strong interpersonal skills with exceptional presentation and communication skills, and the ability to articulate creative concepts to leadership and cross-functional partners
Proficiency in the MS Office suite and Adobe Creative Suite

Nice To Haves

Tailoring experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of multiple apparel categories each season, from initial concept, sketch, and fabric selection through final production samples.
Conduct global research on seasonal silhouette, color, and fabric innovation, with an emphasis on premium materials and traditional textiles, and translate findings into commercially viable direction that reflects the brand's point of view.
Develop and source premium fabrics, yarns, trims, hardware, and construction techniques in partnership with Production and Sourcing, balancing innovation with production feasibility.
Lead fittings to ensure impeccable construction, drape, and tailoring standards, and maintain accurate design cards and tech packs.
Partner closely with Merchandising, Production, and Technical Design to protect product integrity and the original design vision while maximizing gross margin.
Manage, mentor, and coach direct reports at the assistant-to-designer level, driving accountability and fostering creative excellence.
Create presentation boards, CAD artwork, and illustrations that communicate the seasonal vision to leadership and merchants, and maintain an archive of seasonal concepts and artwork to inform future development.