Sr Director, Technical Design & Quality - Old Navy

Gapinc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Gap Inc. is seeking the Head of Old Navy Technical Design & Quality to lead fit fidelity, quality, and product integrity across Adult, Kids, and Baby.

You will drive digital innovation, standardize SOPs, and partner with cross-functional teams and vendors to ensure brand execution aligns with customer expectations. The role balances strategic leadership with hands-on operational excellence, reporting to the VP of Technical Design & Quality and guiding a 30+ member team toward measurable

Qualifications

• 15+ years in Technical Design required with QA experience.
• Expertise in fit analysis, grading, and garment construction.
• Experience driving digital/tool adoption (3D, PLM, AI).
• Strong vendor management and cost discipline.
• Proven change-management and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand-level fit strategy aligning with design and customer feedback.
• Govern fit and quality assurance across development and production.
• Drive technology adoption to improve speed and accuracy.
• Manage KPIs like cycle times, defect rates, and returns.
• Develop a high-performing Technical Design and Quality team.

Skills

Technical Design

Quality Assurance

Digital & AI tools

Vendor management

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Global travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design or related field

Tools

3D design tools

PLM

Digital Product Creation tools

Job description

About the Role

The Head of Old Navy Technical Design & Quality will lead the execution of fit fidelity, quality, and product integrity for the Old Navy brand, ensuring design aesthetics are realized with precision through industry-leading fit standards and quality excellence.

This role is accountable for driving operational excellence across Technical Design and Quality, modernizing ways of working, and embedding customer-centric fit practices powered by digital innovation. The position oversees technical design and quality assurance across Adult, Kids, and Baby, and plays a critical role in translating enterprise strategy into brand-level execution.

The role requires strong collaboration with cross-functional brand and sourcing partners, as well as external vendors, to enhance vendor capability, ensure adherence to Gap Inc. quality standards, and resolve fit and quality issues.

This leader reports to the Vice President, Technical Design & Quality, Gap Inc. and balances strategic leadership with deep operational execution, translating enterprise vision into measurable brand outcomes while driving day-to-day excellence.

What You'll Do

• Lead brand-level fit strategy in close partnership with Design to ensure aesthetic intent is executed with precision, leveraging customer feedback, return insights, and body data to deliver consistent, customer-centric fit across categories and sizes.
• Own and evolve fit block standards and grading integrity, ensuring alignment to enterprise fit frameworks and improving fit accuracy.
• Drive technology innovation through adoption of Digital Product Creation tools (3D, virtual fit, digital prototyping) and AI-enabled solutions to improve speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Govern fit and quality assurance processes across development and production, reducing rework, defects, and fit-related returns.
• Own operational excellence through KPI delivery, including fit approval cycle time, first-pass fit approval rate, return reduction, defect rate, and tech pack accuracy.
• Lead financial and operational rigor across the function, ensuring delivery against budget targets while driving continuous efficiency improvements.
• Implement and enforce standardized operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and scalability across teams.
• Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to drive vendor readiness and capability across fit, quality, and product integrity, while advancing cost engineering to deliver optimal cost, trend-right product, and margin alignment.
• Lead vendor performance through scorecards and continuous improvement programs, ensuring accountability in fit fidelity, quality, and delivery.
• Drive customer-centric product integrity through use of returns data, fit feedback, and insights to continuously improve conversion rates.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Technical Design and Quality organization of 30+, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Role model change management efforts, driving adoption of new tools, processes, and ways of working across teams.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design or related field preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in Technical Design required, with additional experience in Quality Assurance.
• Deep expertise in fit analysis, body morphology, pattern engineering, grading, garment construction, and manufacturing processes across Adult, Kids, and Baby.
• Proven experience driving digital and technology adoption (3D, PLM, AI tools) within product development.
• Strong operational mindset with ability to translate product and customer metrics into product improvements.
• Experience leading vendor management, including scorecards and capability building.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformation and change management initiatives.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills across matrixed, global organizations.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Expert in apparel manufacturing, with comprehensive knowledge of end-to-end production processes, garment construction, factory capabilities, and global sourcing, enabling informed decision-making to optimize fit, quality, and cost.
• Ability to travel globally.