Senior Designer

Lela Rose; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Lela Rose is seeking a Senior Manager of Design & Product Development to drive seasonal collections from concept to production, ensuring alignment with the Director's vision and brand standards.

The role blends hands-on design with leadership, mentoring the Design & Product Development team, and partnering with product development, technical design, patternmaking, production, and merchandising to deliver innovative, commercially successful pieces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 7-10+ years of progressive experience in fashion design and product development.
• Strong garment construction, fit, patternmaking, textiles, embroidery skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop assigned product categories from concept through production.
• Lead the creative development of styles and oversee lifecycle from concept to production.
• Mentor junior team members and manage workflow to meet deadlines.
• Collaborate with Technical Design, Patternmaking, Production, Merchandising, and external vendors.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Adobe Illustrator

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

PLM/ERP systems

Job description

The Senior Manager of Design & Product Development is a creative leader responsible for driving the execution of seasonal collections while supporting the Director of Design & Product Development in leading the department. This role combines hands- on design, ensuring the Director's creative vision is translated into innovative, commercially successful products while maintaining the brand's design standards throughout development.

As both a designer and leader, the Senior Manager owns assigned product categories from concept through production, mentors and develops members of the Design & Product Development team, and partners closely with Product Development, Technical Design, Patternmaking, Production, Merchandising, and external vendors to ensure the highest standards of quality, creativity, and execution are achieved.

Creative Development

• Design and develop assigned product categories from concept through production approval.
• Execute the seasonal design vision and contribute to collection strategy, product direction, and category growth.
• Conduct trend, vintage, textile, and competitive research to identify new ideas, techniques, and market opportunities.
• Develop innovative design concepts that balance creativity, craftsmanship, commercial viability, and brand identity.
• Participate in fabric sourcing, vendor meetings, and material development to support seasonal initiatives.
• Present concepts, product direction, and seasonal developments to the Director for review and approval.
• Help maintain a cohesive aesthetic across all product categories, ensuring consistency with the brand's creative vision.

Product Development & Design Execution

• Lead the creative development of assigned styles throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Attend fittings and provide creative direction on silhouette, proportion, fabrication, construction, and design details.
• Partner closely with Technical Design, and Patternmaking to resolve fit and construction challenges
• Maintain design intent through every stage of product development.
• Mentor & support the junior team members of the Design & Product Development team.
• Assist the Director in prioritizing departmental workflow, balancing workloads, and ensuring seasonal deadlines are achieved.
• Lead design reviews for assigned product categories and provide thoughtful feedback that strengthens the overall collection.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable team environment that encourages creativity and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong partnerships with Product Development, Technical Design, Production, Merchandising, Sales, and external vendors throughout the product lifecycle.
• Proactively identify development risks and collaborate across teams to implement effective solutions.
• Ensure timely communication of design updates and maintain alignment between creative intent and execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 7-10+ years of progressive experience in fashion design and product development, within women's domestic ready-to-wear, luxury apparel.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, patternmaking, textiles, embroidery techniques, and domestic manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading design fittings and collaborating closely with Technical Design, Product Development, Patternmaking, and Production teams.
• Experience mentoring or leading designers while fostering collaboration and creative excellence.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator; working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office. Experience with RLM or other PLM/ERP systems is preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.