Sr. Designer, Men's Ready-to-Wear

kate spade new york•New York, NY

12d•$120,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Designer will work with the Design Director, Design – MRTW, and the design team to initiate seasonal commercial concepts and runway direction that reflect the creative vision and Coach aesthetic. The role shapes the commercial growth of the Collection and Multichannel business and supports the concept and development of the Runway show. The successful candidate brings exceptional design expertise to create elevated ready-to-wear that combines modern design with Coach heritage and sophistication. The role leads seasonal research and the development of commercial and runway concepts, including design across multichannel and continued exploration of wovens, denim, and collection. It partners with materials, merchandising, product development, technical design, and other teams to deliver cohesive, market-right products that balance creative vision, quality, and business needs. The Senior Designer also mentors junior designers, oversees team output, and manages samples, deadlines, and development through commercialization.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of design experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Design or a related field.
Strong fashion sense and ability to interpret trends.
Knowledge of ready-to-wear, garment construction, and material technology.
Strong eye for commercial product and ability to grow a commercial business.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact with a diverse group at all levels.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-up.
Flexibility and ability to adapt to change.
Passion for ready-to-wear and thirst for knowledge.
Excellent hand-sketching skills, including freeform garment renderings and renderings on figure drawings.
Ability to create CAD technical drawings and strength in image manipulation.
Understanding of materials, garment construction, and performance, including fabric, material quality, and garment performance.
Understanding of garment fit and ability to independently conduct fittings on a model.
Experience mentoring junior team members.
Strong working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Design Director and design team to create commercially led products from initial idea through show sample across Multichannel, and lead design research from the initial concept stage.
Conduct seasonal visual, vintage, and trend-based research to inform commercial product and runway direction.
Create a strong commercial assortment across Multichannel, leveraging shared design concepts and materials for cohesion.
Partner with the materials team to source fabrics and trims that support product quality and price points.
Lead ongoing wovens, denim, and collection development and exploration to identify creative opportunities.
Mentor and manage junior designers by providing guidance, feedback, and clear delegation.
Oversee team output and ensure deadlines and business objectives are met through collaborative leadership.
Ensure products protect brand integrity and research and pitch new branding concepts.
Collaborate with the design team on concept styling and seasonal color direction.
Work with design, merchandising, product development, and technical design teams to align creative vision with business objectives and deliver cohesive, market-right products.
Partner with merchandising to analyze market trends and align designs with business needs.
Engage with Merchandising, Concept, Print, and Product Development teams and participate in category meetings.
Present design work to internal partners and maintain strong relationships throughout the process.
Resolve design challenges by balancing creativity and product knowledge, and push back on ideas that do not align with brand-right decisions.
Complete design cards accurately, deliver them to development on schedule, and adhere to the calendar.
Manage development to ensure samples are received for product presentations.
Uphold design integrity, quality, and timeliness throughout development from concept through commercialization.