VP of Design - Baby

Fourth Floor; New York (NY); Presencial; USD 180.000 - 260.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Fourth Floor is seeking a VP of Design for the baby division in New York City. The ideal candidate will lead the design vision, drive seasonal line planning, and mentor a growing design team across CAD artists and designers.

Strong senior leadership, deep knowledge of baby apparel, fabrics, prints, and trims, plus a track record in translating consumer insights into commercially successful collections is required.

Formación

• 8+ years in kids or baby design, with Senior Designer level or above leadership experience.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the overall design vision and product strategy for baby apparel.
• Partner with Merchandising and cross-functional leadership to develop seasonal line plans aligned with business objectives and sales goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the design team, building out the department to support growth.
• Drive trend forecasting, concept development, and creative direction for innovative products.
• Conduct domestic and international market research to identify trends and opportunities.
• Oversee fabric research and development, print direction, trim development, and GWP initiatives.
• Manage end-to-end design and product approval to ensure alignment with timeline and quality.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Trend forecasting

Mentoring

Market insights

Descripción del empleo

Our client, an apparel company, is looking for a VP of Design for their baby team to join them in NYC!

Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall design vision and product strategy for baby apparel
• Partner with Merchandising and cross-functional leadership to develop seasonal line plans aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and sales goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the design team, including CAD artists, designers, and print designers, while building out the department to support continued business growth.
• Drive trend forecasting, concept development, and creative direction to deliver innovative, elevated, and commercially successful product.
• Conduct domestic and international market research to identify emerging trends, competitive opportunities, pricing strategies, and gaps in the marketplace.
• Oversee fabric research and development, print direction, trim development, and gift-with-purchase (GWP) initiatives.
• Manage the end-to-end design and product approval process, ensuring execution aligns with creative vision, quality standards, timelines, and customer requirements.
• Lead buyer presentations and cultivate strong relationships with key retail partners, collaborating on product direction and assortment opportunities.
• Work cross-functionally with Merchandising, Sales, Production, Sourcing, and other departments to ensure alignment from concept through final product execution.
• Establish and execute a long-term design strategy that supports brand growth, strengthens product differentiation, and drives overall business performance.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in kids or baby design, with a background at the Senior Designer level or above; leadership experience at the Director or VP level strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and scale a design team while establishing a clear creative vision and strong departmental processes.
• Extensive product knowledge of baby apparel, including fabrics, prints, trims, construction, and current market trends.
• Strong understanding of line building, merchandising strategy, competitive pricing, and product development within a retail-driven business.
• Demonstrated ability to identify market opportunities and translate consumer insights and trend research into commercially successful collections.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with experience presenting to and collaborating directly with buyers.
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A balance of creative vision and commercial acumen, with a proven ability to drive product innovation and business growth.