Senior Design Manager, Apparel

Senior Design Manager, Apparel Pendleton Woolen Mills Inc - 3.3 Portland, OR Job Details 15 hours ago Qualifications Fashion design Full Job Description Pendleton has been woven in the West since 1863. Built on a legacy of craft, quality, and authenticity, our products are known for their timeless design and enduring stories. As we continue to evolve, we're seeking a Senior Director of Product Development to lead and shape the future of our product creation across all categories. As Senior Design Manager, Apparel, you will lead the creative development and execution of Pendleton's apparel categories across Women's and Men's product, ensuring a cohesive expression of the brand across knitwear, wovens, outerwear, and sweaters. Reporting to the Senior Director of Design, this role combines strong creative leadership with hands-on product execution, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. You will oversee and mentor design teams while driving alignment across categories, elevating design quality, and ensuring product reflects Pendleton's heritage, craftsmanship, and evolving consumer relevance. This role requires a leader who can balance vision, operational rigor, and team development while partnering closely with Product Management, Development, Materials, and Mill teams to deliver compelling, commercially successful collections.

What You Will Do:

Creative Leadership & Product Direction Lead the design and execution of apparel categories across Women's and Men's product including knitwear, wovens, outerwear, and sweaters Translate seasonal vision and product briefs into cohesive, consumer-relevant assortments Drive silhouette, fabrication, color, and detail direction that reflects Pendleton's heritage and evolving consumer Ensure all product aligns with brand standards of craftsmanship, quality, and timelessness Establish cohesive design language across categories while encouraging innovation and newness Team Leadership & Development Lead, mentor, and develop apparel design teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing creative culture Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and prioritization across seasonal workstreams Support team growth through coaching, collaboration, and skill development Partner with leadership on organization, resource planning, and team efficiencies Design Execution & Technical Excellence Oversee sketches, sketch packets, and tech packs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency across teams Ensure integrity and timeliness of all design deliverables in accordance with the product calendar Partner closely with Development to ensure accurate translation from design through proto and commercialization Participate in fittings and reviews, maintaining design intent and quality standards throughout development Process & Cross-Functional Collaboration Manage design milestones and workflow to ensure on-time delivery across all phases of work Proactively identify risks to timelines, resources, or deliverables and drive solutions Partner with Product Management to ensure product fulfills briefs including cost, business goals, and consumer needs Collaborate with Materials, Development, and Mill Technical Design teams to innovate on fabrics, trims, and construction Work closely with Brand Creative to align seasonal storytelling and product expression Partner regularly with Home and Accessories teams to create cohesive brand expression across categories Research & Innovation Maintain strong awareness of market trends, competitors, and consumer insights Conduct ongoing research in materials, construction techniques, and silhouette relevance Bring thoughtful innovation to the assortment while respecting and evolving Pendleton's heritage Maintain strong connection to archive resources and champion brand DNA as the foundation for design direction Core Expectations Apparel design teams deliver high-quality work on time and with strong attention to detail Product consistently reflects Pendleton's brand DNA while meeting consumer and business needs Strong alignment and partnership across Product, Development, Materials, and Mill teams Cohesive design language across categories with clear seasonal storytelling High level of organization, accountability, and follow-through across all aspects of the design process How You Will Make a Difference Elevate Pendleton apparel through strong creative leadership, product excellence, and cohesive brand expression Build a high-functioning and collaborative design organization with strong cross-functional alignment Strengthen consistency and quality across categories while driving innovation and commercial relevance Ensure disciplined execution, on-time deliverables, and alignment between design vision and final product Contribute to building compelling assortments that drive desirability, loyalty, and business performance What You Bring 10+ years of apparel design experience with leadership responsibility across multiple categories Strong expertise across knitwear, woven, outerwear, and sweaters Proven experience leading and developing creative teams Strong technical design capability including advanced sketching, CAD, and tech pack oversight Deep knowledge of apparel construction, materials, trims, fit, and product development processes Strong understanding of calendar management, workflow prioritization, and cross-functional collaboration Exceptional organizational and communication skills with strong attention to detail Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution Collaborative leadership style with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset Passion for craftsmanship, heritage brands, and creating product with lasting value