Design Director, Sweaters

NYC Alliance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 158,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Summer Fridays

Discounts and More!

Job summary

NYC Alliance in New York, NY, is seeking a Design Director to lead the Women’s Sweaters category, guiding knitwear development and maintaining brand direction across the discount channel.

You will mentor a design team, partner with product, merchandising and marketing, and drive innovation in yarns, stitches and silhouettes while ensuring on-time development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 8+ years of design experience with sweaters/knitwear.
• Proven experience leading and developing design teams.
• Strong expertise in knit construction, yarn development, and sweater engineering.
• Ability to translate brand vision into commercially successful knitwear collections.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent understanding of garment fit, construction, and manufacturing processes specific to knitwear.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for the Women's Sweaters category.
• Design and develop trend-driven knitwear with focus on yarn development, stitch innovation, and silhouette evolution.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers.
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing teams to deliver cohesive assortments.
• Research market trends, yarn technologies, and knit techniques to inform design direction.
• Oversee creation of tech packs, including knit specifications, gauge, stitch construction, and yarn details.
• Participate in fittings and guide on fit, proportion, and knit construction.
• Collaborate with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and innovative knit structures.
• Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production.

Skills

Design leadership

Knitwear expertise

Yarn development

Garment fit

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

MS Office

Job description

NYC Alliance Company LLC is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Design Director to lead the Women's Sweaters category across the discount channel business. This role will oversee the creative development of knitwear collections, driving innovation in yarns, stitches, and silhouettes while ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer needs. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knit expertise with a sharp fashion perspective and a deep understanding of the contemporary market.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for the Women's Sweaters category
• Design and develop trend-driven knitwear, with a focus on yarn development, stitch innovation, and silhouette evolution
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers, promoting creativity, collaboration, and high-quality execution
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing teams to deliver cohesive assortments that meet brand and business goals
• Research and interpret market trends, yarn technologies, and knit techniques to inform design direction
• Oversee the creation of detailed tech packs, including knit specifications, gauge, stitch construction, and yarn details
• Participate in fittings, providing guidance on fit, proportion, and knit construction to ensure optimal garment performance
• Collaborate closely with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and innovative knit structures
• Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field
• 8+ years of design experience, with a strong focus on sweaters/knitwear
• Proven experience leading and developing design teams
• Strong expertise in knit construction, yarn development, and sweater engineering
• Ability to translate brand vision into commercially successful knitwear collections
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office
• Excellent understanding of garment fit, construction, and manufacturing processes specific to knitwear
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA
• Retirement Savings Plan Match
• Summer Fridays
• Discounts and More!
• Annual Salary $175,000
• The offered salary for this position will vary based on role requirements determined by NYC Alliance, skill set and years of experience.