Senior Designer, Leather Goods

Marc Jacobs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

Marc Jacobs International seeks a Senior designer, Leather Goods to join the Design team at its New York City (SoHo) headquarters. Lead the design and development of handbags from concept to production, driving silhouettes, hardware ideas, and product animations aligned with brand direction.

You will develop trend boards, conduct market analysis, and translate seasonal direction into commercially strong products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, Industrial Design, or related field.
• 7–10 years of handbag or leather goods design experience within a luxury or contemporary fashion brand.
• Proven experience leading seasonal handbag collections from concept through production.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior designers, including up to two direct reports.
• Strong understanding of handbag construction, materials, hardware, leather, and manufacturing processes.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across four seasonal calendars.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly creative, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong presentation, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Excel.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to thrive in an environment where product is continually evolving through seasonal development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of handbags and small leather goods from initial concept through production.
• Create innovative silhouettes, seasonal concepts, hardware ideas, and product animations aligned with brand direction.
• Develop compelling inspiration boards, trend research, vintage references, and competitive market analysis.
• Translate seasonal direction into commercially relevant products with a strong understanding of color, materials, construction, and functionality.
• Produce detailed sketches, CADs, technical drawings, and comprehensive tech packs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Review prototypes and development samples, providing detailed comments and design revisions throughout the product development process.
• Collaborate with Product Development and factory partners to resolve construction, engineering, and cost challenges while preserving design intent.

Skills

Handbag design

Team leadership

Creative direction

Strong presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Excel

Job description

OVERVIEW:

Marc JacobsInternational, powered bythe creative genius of Marc Jacobs, seeks a Senior designer, Leather Goodsto join the Design team based in itsNew York City (SoHo) headquarters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design & Creative Development

• Lead the design and development of handbags and small leather goods from initial concept through production.
• Create innovative silhouettes, seasonal concepts, hardware ideas, and product animations aligned with brand direction.
• Develop compelling inspiration boards, trend research, vintage references, and competitive market analysis.
• Translate seasonal direction into commercially relevant products with a strong understanding of color, materials, construction, and functionality.
• Produce detailed sketches, CADs, technical drawings, and comprehensive tech packs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Review prototypes and development samples, providing detailed comments and design revisions throughout the product development process.
• Collaborate with Product Development and factory partners to resolve construction, engineering, and cost challenges while preserving design intent.

Collaboration & Communication

• Support the Design Director in managing the day-to-day organization of the handbag design team.
• Help prioritize workload, balance seasonal projects, and ensure an even distribution of responsibilities across the team.
• Supervise and mentor up to two direct reports, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Foster a collaborative, positive, and highly creative team environment while maintaining accountability for deadlines and deliverables.
• Monitor progress against seasonal calendars and proactively identify workflow challenges or resource needs.

Product Management & Quality Assurance

• Manage product development across four seasonal collections simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, creativity, and speed.
• Ensure all design deliverables are completed according to seasonal milestones and critical calendar deadlines.
• Organize seasonal line architecture, product animations, color-ups, presentation materials, and design archives.
• Maintain Illustrator libraries, CAD files, technical packages, seasonal boards, and product documentation with exceptional attention to detail.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, Industrial Design, or related field.
• 7–10 years of handbag or leather goods design experience within a luxury or contemporary fashion brand.
• Proven experience leading seasonal handbag collections from concept through production.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior designers, including up to two direct reports.
• Strong understanding of handbag construction, materials, hardware, leather, and manufacturing processes.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across four seasonal calendars.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly creative, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong presentation, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Excel.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to thrive in an environment where product is continually evolving through seasonal development.

SALARY & BENEFITS/WHAT WE OFFER:

The compensation for this position ranges from $120-130k (annually). The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon candidate’s relevant skills and experience. In addition, we offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays, vacation time, sick and personal time, medical, dental and vision insurance, and 401k matching. We also offer discounts on travel, entertainment, and more through our partnership with PerkSpot. MJ employees also receive discounts on MJ products throughout the year, as well as access to discounts on other LVMH brands.

ABOUT MARC JACOBS

For nearly 40 years, Marc Jacobs has been a driving force in fashion with his philosophy: pioneering designs, an irreverent spirit, the everyday and the extraordinary. Today, the brand continues to make its Marc as rebellious, unpredictable, and original.

Our work is founded on our core brand pillars: unexpected, utilitarian, urban, unisex, and unique. NYC in design and spirit, our teams thrive off relentless authenticity, an openness to standing out, and inclusivity for all.

EEO STATEMENT

Marc Jacobs International was founded on Marc’s vision of celebrating uniqueness and being Perfect as You Are. We are committed to building an equitable and inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, background, and experience – all essential to our spirit of innovation and creativity. In line with this commitment, we believe that the best candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background or may meet the qualifications in different ways. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the listed qualifications.

Marc Jacobs International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.