Group Director, Apparel Design - Kids Apparel

Position Summary…

What you’ll do…

Design Excellence; Requires knowledge of: Knowledge of visual communication principles and storytelling techniques; Knowledge of sketching and illustration techniques, materials, and fit concepts; Understanding of color theory, print execution, fabric choice, and prototyping processes; Understanding of market macro and cultural trends, translating into high-quality, high-value product aligned with the EDLP promise. Sets the brand vision for seasonal design concepts and ensures alignment across all product channels. Leads the creation of compelling product narratives that drive customer engagement and loyalty. Oversees the production of master-level sketches, illustrations, concepts, and trend packages. Drives innovation in material development to improve or reposition brand quality. Masters the seasonal prototype development cycle for a brand, or several brands, leading to fully resolved collections of high-quality samples with the highest rates of adoption. Integrates strategic market insights, white space, and business context to create commercially viable and innovative designs. Sets and advances new industry trends and standards in color theory, print execution, and fabric selection. Masters the design fit strategy, continuously innovating for several brands and complex categories. Defines design strategies that deliver trend-led, high-quality product at exceptional value. Tech Enhanced Operations; Requires knowledge of: Deep understanding of seasonal design workflows, cross-functional integration, and product development timelines; Fluency in design enablement tools (for example, PLM, CAD, workflow trackers, AI-enhanced systems, 3D modeling); Familiarity with critical path planning, resource management, and continuous improvement practices; Ability to apply data, automation, and tooling to improve design quality, efficiency, and delivery accuracy. Leads enterprise-wide initiatives to elevate design throughput, workflow velocity, and product integrity. Develops and implements strategic process improvements that reduce cost, increase scalability, and embed best practices. Reengineers workflows and tools (for example, AI systems, calendar models, PLM frameworks, 3D technology) to modernize design operations. Embeds sustainable, tech-enabled operating mechanisms that drive accountability and cross-functional clarity. Acts as a thought partner across functions to align design innovation with scalable execution. Leads the testing, adoption, and implementation of emerging AI-powered and digital design technologies. Brand Management; Requires knowledge of: Knowledge of brand management principles; Understands brand architecture, aesthetic codes, and customer promise; Familiar with line planning, product tiering, and storytelling techniques used to shape cohesive collections; Applies market, trend, and competitor insights to strengthen brand relevance and defensibility; Knows how to maintain visual and product consistency across delivery drops, categories, and channels. Defines long-term brand evolution through seasonal product strategy and innovation. Acts as the design voice in strategic planning, translating vision into scalable product platforms. Oversees portfolio-level assortment to ensure architecture, price strategy, and storytelling reinforce the brand. Shapes brand guardrails for global teams, ensuring consistency with regional nuance. Partners across Merchandising, Marketing, and Executive leadership to future-proof brand identity and growth. Trend Forecasting; Requires knowledge of: Skilled in interpreting AI and social listening tools (for example, Trendalytics, Heuritech) to validate or pivot creative direction; Proficient in integrating macro/cultural signals, competitor movement, and real-time feedback into design POV; Applies trend foresight to silhouette, material, color, and brand strategy; Uses past season performance and market gaps to inform future product and innovation; Understands the fashion trend lifecycle, seasonal shifts, and adoption curves. Defines long-range trend POV for the brand. Identifies and activates white space opportunities. Oversees trend-to-product execution across seasons and categories, ensuring foresight drives line strategy. Leads the adoption of AI-enhanced forecasting tools. Sets standards for data-informed creativity. Builds trend guardrails that future-proof design and ensure category leadership. Partners with exec…