Director Technical Design

About PHOENIX 

PHOENIX Retail, LLC is a retail platform operating the Express and Bonobos brands worldwide. Express is a multichannel apparel brand dedicated to a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style whether dressing for work, everyday or special occasions. Bonobos is a menswear brand known for being pioneers of exceptional fit and a personalized, innovative retail model. Customers can experience our brands in over 400 Express retail and Express Factory Outlet stores, 50 Bonobos Guideshops, and online at www.express.com and www.bonobos.com.

About Express

Express is a multichannel apparel brand dedicated to creating confidence and inspiring self-expression. Since its launch in 1980, the brand has embraced a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style. Whether dressing for work, everyday or special occasions, Express ensures you look and feel your best, wherever life takes you.

The Company operates over 400 retail and outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the express.com online store and the Express mobile app.

Note: This role is eligible for candidates in New York, New York or Columbus, Ohio.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Technical Design is responsible for leading technical design teams and overseeing the execution of fit and design from development through bulk production, ensuring adherence to quality and production standards. This role establishes and maintains consistent fit protocols and standards. The Director partners closely with Production, Merchandising, and Design to align on costing, timelines, aesthetics, and product quality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Technical Design team.
• Partner with Merchandising, Design, and Sourcing to establish measurements and specifications for each fit, ensuring alignment with external data, brand aesthetics, and customer expectations.
• Define and enforce vendor fit processes and standards, ensuring compliance across internal teams and factory partners.
• Establish and uphold rigorous quality standards for both fabric and finished product vendors, ensuring consistent execution.
• Maintain strong, proactive communication with product vendors to ensure alignment and resolve issues efficiently.
• Oversee cross-functional collaboration with Design, Production, and Merchandising in the development of new seasonal styles.
• Lead fittings and guide resolution of fit challenges, ensuring timely communication of all fit, construction, grading, and detail requirements to vendors.
• Direct the development, documentation, and ongoing maintenance of specifications, grading, fit comments, and related information within the PLM system.
• Develop and maintain consistent grade rules across product categories to ensure accuracy and standardization.
• Oversee the review of Fit, Pre-Production (PP), and Top of Production (TOP) samples to validate consistency with original development intent.
• Define and monitor quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) expectations and processes, ensuring strict adherence across teams and vendors.
• Drive the growth, development, and performance of the Technical Design team through mentorship, training, and clear accountability to foster a culture of continuous improvement

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience in technical design
• Strong leadership abilities with proven track record of developing high performing teams
• Proficiency in PLM systems, pattern making and editing software, and data driven decision making processes
• Deep understanding of patterns, pattern making, and garment construction with experience in communicating pattern and construction corrections
• Desire to seek feedback and commit to continuous improvement of product lines based on team insights, customer feedback, product performance, and market changes
• Demonstrated success communicating with offshore vendors in a timely, friendly, and efficient manner
• Sense of urgency in executing business goals with creative problem solving skills
• Detail oriented with a strong follow through and have the ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

CRITICAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Positive “all-hands-on-deck” type of attitude
• Good communicator in a variety of settings, including large groups
• Ability to overlay company strategies with product needs
• Adept at making key decisions and knows when to relying on leadership for support
• Ability to multitask across different responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Expert at shifting priorities and workload as business needs change
• Comfortable with calendar, deadlines and managing competing priorities

Benefits and Compensation:

PHOENIX offers a range of benefits to help protect full-time associate’s health and long-term financial security including: 

• Medical, pharmacy, dental and vision coverage 
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with Company match 
• Merchandise discount 
• Paid Time Off 
• Parental leave for new moms and dads 

For part-time associates, PHOENIX is partnering with LIG Solutions to help associates obtain individual insurance coverage that best fits their needs and budget, including major medical, dental, vision, supplemental insurance, life Insurance and more.

Additionally, part-time associates may be eligible to receive paid sick leave, public health emergency leave and to participate in the 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with Company match. 

Part-time associates are also eligible to receive an Express merchandise discount, participate in our Learn & Earn incentive program, and choose voluntary benefits through YouDecide.

Actual compensation offered is dependent upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, work location, education, relevant skills and experience of the candidate.

An equal opportunity employer, PHOENIX does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or any other terms and conditions of employment hiring on the basis of any federal, state, or locally protected characteristic. PHOENIX only hires individuals authorized for employment in the United States. PHOENIX is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to search and apply for a job position due to a disability, please call 1-800-964-9793 and say 'Associate Relations' or send an e-mail to AssociateRelations@Express.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Notification to Agencies: Please note that PHOENIX does not accept unsolicited resumes or calls from third-party recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement and approval from HR to submit resumes for a specific requisition, PHOENIX will not consider or approve payment to any third-parties for hires made.