DIRECTOR OF DESIGN AND MERCHANDISE

Hawkeye Search Group; Jersey City (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawkeye Search Group in Jersey City, NJ seeks a Director of Design and Merchandise who drives the creative and commercial direction for assigned categories. This hands-on leader will develop line plans, prepare tech packs, and partner with sales to meet customer demand while mentoring a small design team.

You will collaborate with sourcing and production to ensure on-time, on-margin delivery, manage licensed product, and present collections with compelling storytelling to internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven apparel design and merchandising experience with a track record of selling products.
• Sleepwear or womenswear background strongly preferred.
• Expert Illustrator skills with hands-on proficiency.
• Experience partnering with sales and managing cross-functional relationships.
• Prior people management experience.
• Strong understanding of the full product lifecycle from sketch to bulk production.

Responsibilities

• Own the creative and commercial direction for assigned categories, from initial concept through final product.
• Work hands-on in Illustrator on designs, tech packs, and line development.
• Partner with sales teams to ensure product aligns with customer needs and market demand.
• Collaborate with sourcing, production, and planning teams to execute the line on time and on margin.
• Manage licensed product within licensor guidelines and approval processes.
• Build seasonal assortments, line plans, and pricing strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small design and merchandising team.
• Present collections internally and support sales with product storytelling.

Skills

Illustrator

Design leadership

Merchandising

Line development

Licensing basics

Cross-functional collaboration

Team management

Tools

Illustrator

Job description

The Company

A well-established, fast-moving apparel company with a strong national footprint is looking for a hands‑on design and merchandising leader. The business is growing, the product categories are expanding, and this role sits at the center of it all.

The Role

We are looking for a Director of Design and Merchandise who leads from inside the work. This person will own the design and merchandising vision for assigned categories while staying deeply involved in the day-to-day: building in Illustrator, partnering with sales, and working across teams to get great product to market.

You will lead and manage a small team, but this is not a role for someone who has stepped away from the craft. The right person still opens Illustrator every day and thrives in the details.

What You Will Do

• Own the creative and commercial direction for assigned categories, from initial concept through final product
• Work hands‑on in Illustrator on designs, tech packs, and line development
• Partner closely with sales teams to make sure product aligns with customer needs and market demand
• Collaborate with sourcing, production, and planning teams to execute the line on time and on margin
• Manage licensed product, working within licensor guidelines and approval processes
• Build seasonal assortments, line plans, and pricing strategy
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small design and merchandising team
• Present collections internally and support sales with product storytelling

What You Bring

• Proven apparel design and merchandising experience with a track record of building product that sells
• Sleepwear or womenswear background strongly preferred
• Solid understanding of licensed product and how to work within licensor requirements
• Expert Illustrator skills. Hands‑on proficiency is required, not just the ability to direct it
• Experience partnering with sales and managing cross‑functional relationships
• Prior people management experience
• Strong understanding of the full product lifecycle, from sketch to bulk production
• A commercial eye: you know what the customer wants and how to deliver it

Location and Compensation

Jersey City, NJ, in office 4 days per week

Base salary $150,000 - $180,000