Men's Technical Design Manager

ICON Luxury Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ICON Luxury Group is looking for a Technical Design Manager to build and lead all technical design functions for Cole Haan Sportswear, a new men's sportswear line launching under license.

The right candidate is a self-starter who can operate independently, set up processes from scratch, and own the full technical design. Experience across all men's classifications is essential, as is deep knowledge of fitting, pattern making and grading.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in menswear across all classifications (wovens, knits, fleece, outerwear, activewear, lifestyle sportswear).
• Read, evaluate, and give actionable corrections on flat patterns; direct experience with pattern makers required.
• Strong command of US men’s size scale grading and grade rules; review and correct factory grading.

Responsibilities

• Full product lifecycle — manage technical design from initial concept through fit approvals and production sign-off.
• Tech pack ownership — create and maintain tech packs with specs, construction details, graded measurements, and callouts.
• Pattern making and grading across the full US men’s size scale for all classifications.
• Lead all fittings on a male fit model; identify issues and communicate technical corrections to vendors.
• Act as primary technical contact with overseas and domestic factories; manage comments, revisions, and approvals.
• Develop fit standards, construction standards, grade rules, and approval workflows from scratch.
• Collaborate with design, product development, and sourcing to commercialize product without compromising quality.

Skills

Menswear across classifications

Pattern making

Grading across US men’s size scale

Independently build processes

Vendor communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Office/Excel

PLM systems

Job description

Tips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.

ICON Luxury Group is looking for a Technical Design Manager to build and lead all technical design functions for Cole Haan Sportswear, a new men's sportswear line launching under license.

Cole Haan is an iconic American brand with nearly 100 years of history, and this is a ground-floor opportunity to help shape what the sportswear category looks like under that name.

The right candidate is a self-starter who can operate independently, set up processes from scratch, and own the full technical design. Experience across all men's classifications is essential, as is deep knowledge of fitting, pattern making and grading.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• – Full product lifecycle — manage technical design from initial concept and first proto through fit approvals, PP samples, and production sign-off
• – Tech pack ownership — create and maintain tech packs including specs, construction details, graded measurements, and callouts
• – Pattern making and grading — apply strong knowledge of flat pattern construction and grading across the full US men's size scale for all product classifications
• – Fit sessions — lead all fittings on a male fit model, identify issues, and communicate clear technical corrections to vendors
• – Vendor communication — act as primary technical contact with overseas and domestic factories; manage comments, revisions, and approvals
• – Standards and process development — build fit standards, construction standards, grade rules, and approval workflows from the ground up
• – Cross-functional collaboration — work closely with design, product development, and sourcing to commercialize product without compromising quality or design intent
• – Cost engineering — provide input on construction and material decisions with an eye toward manufacturability and cost targets

REQUIREMENTS

• – Menswear across all classifications — must have hands‑on experience in wovens, knits, fleece, outerwear, activewear, performance wear, and lifestyle sportswear
• – Pattern making — must be able to read, evaluate, and give actionable corrections on flat patterns; direct experience working with pattern makers required
• – Grading — strong command of US men’s size scale grading and grade rules across all body areas; ability to review and correct factory grading
• – 10+ years of technical design experience — in menswear, with at least 2 years in a senior or managerial capacity
• – Self‑directed work style — proven ability to operate independently and build processes without existing infrastructure
• – Factory experience — direct collaboration with overseas manufacturers on technical comments, fit corrections, and approvals
• – Software — Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office/Excel, PLM systems required

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

• Suitings
• Lifestyle sportswear
• Sweater
• Woven tops & bottoms
• Knit tops & fleece
• Outerwear & layering
• Training & athleisure
• NICE TO HAVE – Luxury or premium brand background
• Cross-cultural vendor communication

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, Apparel Merchandising, or Textile Science preferred — or equivalent experience with demonstrated mastery of technical design.