Senior Mgr, Technical Design

Centric Brands • New York, NY

5d • $120,000 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Technical Design (Kids) leads the technical design function for children’s apparel, ensuring best-in-class fit, safety, quality, and consistency across all kids’ categories (infant, toddler, boys, girls). This role drives fit strategy, manages a team of technical designers, and partners cross-functionally to deliver high-quality, age-appropriate products aligned with brand standards and customer needs.

Requirements

• 8–12 years in technical design
• 3–5+ years of leadership/people management experience
• Strong experience in kids’ apparel (infant–youth) required
• Deep understanding of kids garment construction and fit
• Expertise in growth allowance, ergonomic fit, and durability requirements
• Strong patternmaking and grading knowledge
• Advanced fabric and material knowledge
• PLM systems (FlexPLM, Centric, etc.)
• Adobe Illustrator

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, or related field preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of kids Technical Designers across categories
• Set performance goals and provide ongoing coaching and feedback
• Build team expertise in kids fit, safety requirements, and construction
• Manage workload, prioritize resources, and ensure deadlines are met
• Define and implement fit strategy by age group and category
• Establish standards for growth allowance, comfort, and mobility
• Oversee fit sessions to ensure consistency and accuracy
• Resolve complex fit challenges across size ranges (infants through youth)
• Maintain and evolve block libraries and grading standards
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of tech packs, including Points of Measure (POMs), Grading and tolerances, and Construction details
• Oversee product lifecycle from proto through production approval
• Drive improvements in first-time fit approval and sample efficiency
• Ensure all products meet child safety regulations, including CPSIA standards, Flammability requirements, and Small parts and trim safety
• Partner with QA to maintain compliance standards
• Establish best practices for safe construction
• Drive initiatives to improve speed to market, sample iteration reduction, and fit consistency
• Implement and optimize PLM systems and digital tools
• Champion adoption of 3D design/fit tools (e.g., CLO, Browzwear)
• Partner with global vendors and factories to ensure execution of kids-specific requirements
• Collaborate with Design (aesthetic + functionality alignment), Product Development (cost + feasibility), and Sourcing/Production (manufacturing execution)
• Resolve escalated vendor or quality issues
• Monitor key metrics such as Fit approval rates, Sample cycle time, and Fit-related returns
• Identify root causes of quality or fit issues and implement solutions

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• matching 401(k)
• Summer Fridays
• generous PTO
• merchandise discounts
• excellent career development opportunities
• work environment that reflects our industry leadership
• social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism
• D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation

What This Job Offers

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