Design Director, Wilson Sportswear – Advanced Concepts

Design Director, Wilson Sportswear – Advanced Concepts – Los Angeles

Passion. Creativity. Integrity. Teamwork. Ambition. Innovation. These are the qualities that have made Wilson Sporting Goods Co. the number one sports equipment brand in the world. And these are the qualities that our global team embodies every day as we pursue one shared bold mission: to ignite the true potential in every athlete.

We know that great people are what makes our brand great. We know that teams who bring a variety of skill sets, experiences and perspectives to challenge the status quo and create game-changing product means we are doing right by the athletes and coaches we serve. And that’s why we work with each member of our team to help them dream, discover, grow and realize their own full potential.

Evolving the sports world and being the best partner for players is no small task. We are continually looking to add hard-working, ambitious, team-first individuals who desire to make a difference —and who love to help others win. Join us.

Wilson Sportswear is a new division of Wilson Sporting Goods, the number one equipment brand in the sporting goods industry, with a mission to create beautiful, functional, technical and lifestyle apparel for young athletic men and women. The Design Director – Advanced Concepts, will strategically lead our Advanced Concepts team in their development of sportswear that empowers our customers to live like an athlete.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for collaborating and executing creative vision and direction
• Responsible for managing the Advanced Concepts category - including on time delivery of all assets, hitting key deadlines and managing design team.
• Is a team player, able to work closely with other team members to help manage overall workload for the department in addition to managing their own workload
• Is a strong leader and helps mentor and guide other designers on the team. Vision and goal focused.
• Self-starter and able to ask for help when needed but proactive in finding solves. Solution oriented.
• Responsible for owning the lifecycle (design and overall aesthetic) from start up until PP stage
• Responsible for sharing fit intention
• Responsible for managing and hitting all deadlines and communicating any issues
• Able to communicate clear ideas and know who the customer is through research and shopping. Must be able to analyze market trends and apply to specific categories
• Organized, amazing with time management and attention to detail
• Able to function in a fast-paced work environment that is growing and evolving rapidly.
• Able to lead while also still owning a portion of the collection.
• Can lead performance-based design team to create solution based collections – solve for the athlete

This role requires a 4 year design focused degree and 12+ years of apparel design experience and 3+ years leading high functioning teams.

Other qualifications include:

• Must have excellent communication and organizational skills
• Proficient on Mac platform
• Must be able to work proficiently in Adobe Illustrator
• Photoshop and InDesign are a plus
• Knowledge of PLM systems and how to use them
• Expert knowledge of apparel design and garment construction
• Expert knowledge of performance fabric and trims
• Proficient in seamless, sweater knits and wash development is a plus
• Experience with performance apparel is required
• Strong leadership skills and can also take direction
• Must have strong presentation skills
• Must have examples of work and portfolio to be considered
• Will report to VP of Design
• Will manage Designers
• Roll will require a design project

What We'll Provide

A reasonable estimate of the pay range is $160,000 - $210,000 per year at the time of this posting. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors such as job-related skills, relevant experience, education, and/or training. Please note that the range details reflect the base pay only and does not include our competitive bonus program.

Los Angeles, like Wilson Sportswear, is at the intersection of sport, fashion, and culture. Join us on this exciting adventure. We offer an open, collaborative, work environment with best-in-class amenities and perks, including:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Pre-tax transit discounts
• 401(k) with company match
• Life insurance
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Professional development opportunities
• Volunteering programs
• Team building outings
• Discounts on Wilson and Amer Sports products
• Smart casual dress (yes, jeans every day!)
• Summer hours
• Company-sponsored sports leagues/teams
• Fun, active company outings around major sports events

Wilson Sporting Goods Co. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.