Senior Designer, Merrell

Centric Brands; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) matching

Summer Fridays

Generous PTO

Merchandise discounts

Job summary

Centric Brands Inc. is seeking a Designer in New York to lead seasonal design for Women's Apparel, translating brand vision into consumer-ready products. You will partner with Merchandising, Development, and Product Leadership to create a compelling and commercially viable assortment.

You will balance creativity with practicality, supervise design development from concept to production, and mentor junior team members while driving timeliness and quality across programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field is required.
• 5-8+ years of apparel design experience with ownership of concepts through commercialization.
• Experience across outerwear, fleece, tops, bottoms, performance, and lifestyle categories.
• Strong knowledge of outdoor, active and performance apparel markets and materials.
• Ability to balance creative vision with commercial objectives.
• Advanced proficiency in design tools including Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, Microsoft Office, CAD tools, and Mac environments.
• Excellent presentation, communication, organizational, and cross-functional skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Drive seasonal design direction for Women's Apparel based on brand vision and trends.
• Forecast trends, identify opportunities, and present seasonal concepts and color palettes.
• Develop design strategies and coordinate with cross-functional partners to align with business goals.
• Lead the design and development from concept through final production, balancing performance and aesthetics.
• Create sketches, technical illustrations, specifications, and documentation for development.
• Collaborate with Product Development and Technical Design to ensure fit and garment performance.
• Drive fabric, trim, wash and material selection with sustainability considerations.
• Review prototypes and fittings to meet design intent and standards.
• Partner with Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, and vendors to deliver cohesive assortments.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

CAD tools

Mac-based design environments

Presentation skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

CAD tools

Job description

About Us

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

Designer

What could be more exciting than putting your mark on some of the world’s most famous and well-loved fashion brands? As a designer for Centric Brands, you’ll use your skills and creativity to create designs based on style plans, sales needs and emerging trends. You will also ensure that your work can be transformed into a finished product in a timely manner and at an appropriate price point. This means working not only with our technical design and production teams, but also building collaborative relationships with outside vendors and other external stakeholders. The challenges are exciting and the possibilities endless – as you contribute your skills in a vibrant, customer- and people-centric culture that celebrates you as a valuable member of the team.

Specific Responsibilities Would Include

The Designer, Women's Apparel for Merrell will lead the seasonal design development process from concept through commercialization, creating innovative, consumer-focused product solutions that align with brand strategy, market trends, and business objectives. This role will partner closely with Merchandising, Development, and Product Leadership to drive a compelling product assortment while elevating Merrell's position within the outdoor and performance apparel market.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Innovation

• Drive seasonal design direction for Women's Apparel categories, translating brand vision, consumer insights, and market trends into commercially successful product concepts.
• Research and forecast emerging trends, outdoor performance innovations, competitive landscapes, and consumer behaviors to identify new product opportunities.
• Develop and present seasonal concepts, trend stories, color palettes, material direction, and design strategies to cross-functional partners and leadership.
• Contribute to long-range product vision and category growth opportunities across the apparel business.

Product Design & Development

• Lead the design and development of innovative product solutions from concept through final production while balancing performance, function, aesthetics, and cost considerations.
• Create detailed design sketches, technical illustrations, specifications, and product documentation to ensure clarity throughout the development process.
• Partner with Product Development and Technical Design to execute fit, construction, functionality, and garment performance objectives.
• Drive fabric, trim, wash, and material selection, leveraging knowledge of technical outdoor textiles, sustainability initiatives, and performance innovation.
• Review prototypes and fittings, providing clear direction to achieve design intent and performance standards.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, and Marketing to build cohesive seasonal assortments.
• Partner with domestic and international vendors to ensure product execution, quality standards, and development timelines are achieved.
• Present design concepts, seasonal strategies, and product recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.

Leadership & Team Development

• Serve as a design subject matter expert and trusted partner within the apparel organization.
• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering collaboration, creativity, and professional growth.
• Influence design processes and contribute to a positive, innovative, and high-performing team culture.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and meeting key business deadlines.

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 5-8+ years of apparel design experience, with a strong focus on Women's Apparel and demonstrated ownership of product categories from concept through commercialization.
• Experience designing across multiple apparel categories including outerwear, fleece, tops, bottoms, performance, and lifestyle products.
• Strong understanding of outdoor, active, and performance apparel markets, including technical fabrics, trims, construction techniques, and emerging consumer trends.
• Proven ability to balance creative vision with commercial business objectives.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, Microsoft Office, CAD tools, and Mac-based design environments.
• Excellent presentation, communication, organizational, and cross-functional partnership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and influence decision-making across teams.

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $100,000 - $120,000

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please note that Centric Brands will only reach out to interview, make an offer of employment or conduct onboarding activities for candidates who have applied through our careers site. When interviewing for a position, the candidate experience will include live interaction, such as a video conference or telephone call, with a Recruiter and/or company employee(s). We will never ask for any money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. Be aware of suspicious recruitment activity. If you think you are a victim of an employment scam, you may contact your local law enforcement agency and/or visit the Federal Trade Commission website here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams.

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