Director Trend & Design

Position Purpose

Serving as a trend and design consultant to the Senior Leadership Team and merchandising group, the Director Trend & Design provides insight to industry trend direction and leading edge home fashion ideas that will drive overall merchandising decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• 25% Research overall trends in industry. Consider factors influencing home fashions such as cost, selection of materials, production methods, new technology, safety, fashion trends and business strategy.
• 25% Develop an understanding for strong, balanced assortments in alignment with portfolio strategy. Provide trend direction in all categories.
• 20% Lead and participate with merchandising group in end to end product development, rooted in current trends
• 20% Collaborates and builds partnerships with senior leadership team, customers, and suppliers to generate big ideas, concepts, and product strategy to achieve business goals. Acts as consultant to the merchandising group and senior leadership team.
• 10% Responsible for appropriate selection, termination, performance appraisal, and professional development of assigned staff.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports

• Position reports to Senior Director
• Accountable for direct supervision of the work activities of others. In addition to personnel issues – including selection, termination, performance appraisal and professional development of subordinates.

Travel Requirements

• Typically requires overnight travel 5% to 20% of the time.

Physical Requirements

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Working Conditions

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Design or related field preferred
• Knowledge of design-related computer software, including: Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, CAD, Indesign

Minimum Education

• The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor’s degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Preferred Education

• No additional education

Minimum Years Of Work Experience

• 8

Preferred Years Of Work Experience

• No additional years of experience

Minimum Leadership Experience

• None

Preferred Leadership Experience

• None

Certifications

• None

Competencies

• Thorough understanding of home fashion market; strong merchandising skills; experience working with mass merchants.
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to present to large groups
• Strong negotiation skills; experience working with vendors
• Ability to research and apply market/trend information.
• Strong management and leadership skills