Senior Apparel Designer

This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs. This in-office requirement may be adjusted at the discretion of the company.

ABOUT:

THE POSITION The Senior Apparel Designer is an influential team member in the design efforts to create original, function led, innovative designs that reflect the company's design ethos.

• Demonstrates proficiency in an area of design.
• Researches the needs and

requirements:

of the outdoor consumer through trends in the market (color, style, retail), and any other end-use relevant activities.

• Responsible for a category of product and displays a strong creative point of view through concept creation, development (including tech packs, style reviews, and participation in fit sessions), color application, and full-sample validation.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE Provides sketches and line art to communicate full category design concepts, including multiple views and detail sketches as necessary.

• Creates sketches with the consumer's needs in mind.

Sketches exceed product brief expectations around pricing, function, and design aesthetic.

• Facilitates and leads cross-category design team meetings to provide design and concept board direction to communicate seasonal concepts.

Represents design at in-person or online presentations to articulate seasonal concepts. Proactively develops and maintains open lines of communication with merchandising, materials research, product development, fit engineering and costing partners within the company. Proactively initiates conversation and takes responsibility for ensuring positive and productive working relationships.

• Leads in prototype process for assigned categories, which includes initiating early concept styles to drive seasonal concepts, initiating sample requests by working closely with technical designer and product developers, reviewing samples and directing revisions as needed throughout the development cycle.

Actively participates in fit sessions and categorical team meetings as needed to facilitate process, revisions, and finalization of products.

• Maintains high level of knowledge in materials, textile, components, and technologies in marketplace and ability to create new models for enhancing product category.

Works closely with materials research to define new material areas to research and ways to apply trend. Firmly comprehends market and competitive landscape. Possesses strong understanding of industry trends in order to gain inspiration and commercially translate to product category.

• Leads discussion of preseason design regarding seasonal trend application and cross-functional collaboration.
• Presents trends both in and outside of department for cross-functional alignment.

Possesses a comprehensive understanding of target consumer.

• Leads development of the creative vision for a specified product category.

Consistently creates innovative solutions and ensures innovation is a key consideration in majority of designs. Possesses a strong level of risk taking and creativity which translates to brand-driving designs. YOU ARE Able to solve problems that may be difficult in nature, operate independently and work effectively under pressure.

Detailed oriented and can handle unique intricacies of the collections you are designing. Great at handling multiple active projects at once while adjusting priority levels, processes and approach. Successfully able to work cross-functionally with internal and external partners like brand partners, product development, materials research, production/sourcing and marketing teams, and trims and graph teams.

An excellent communicator with

skills:

to establish positive working relationships across various levels and fields of expertise. YOU HAVE Bachelor’s degree, applicable certification or equivalent

experience:

Typically requires 5-8 years of professional

experience:

and strong competency with the various tools, systems, or procedures required to accomplish the job. Bachelor’s degree, applicable certification or equivalent

experience:

Typically requires 5-8 years garment design

experience:

in the apparel industry.

Experience:

with outdoor industry is a plus. Displays the

skills:

to solve complex problems and develops independent, creative solutions based on the evolution of multiple options. Possesses in-depth knowledge of apparel design principles, concepts and theories. Applies broader knowledge of apparel industry standards/ practices to category solutions. Comprehensive knowledge of Adobe Illustrator required.

Displays a high level of business acumen and understands how the design function integrates within the larger company.

• Demonstrates strong understanding of key business partner functions, including development processes, merchandising procedures, materials, and production techniques and has high-level knowledge of the product creation process.

Explains and simplifies complex design problems and works to build team consensus.

• Guides the coordination of information to ensure ongoing collaboration and program execution.
• Creates process optimization and seeks out efficiencies.

Strong ability to work effectively under pressure and to maintain discretion and confidentiality.

• Demonstrates excellent time-management and prioritization

skills:

while working on multiple projects simultaneously. A LINK TO DESIGN PORTFOLIO PREFERRED ON RESUME OR IN APPLICATION #LI-JC1 #Hybrid This job

description:

is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and

responsibilities:

, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal

opportunity:

employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter. At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a

benefits:

package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community.

Benefits:

that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).

In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness

benefits:

, employee discounts and a generous time off program available. If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to AskHR@columbia.com with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested. Columbia is different. As a global apparel and footwear company with over 80 years of being ourselves and not apologizing for it, we’ve seen a lot and done a lot.

But our motto remains: “It’s perfect. now make it better.” Learn more

about:

how you can help us shape the next 80 years here.