Apparel Designer -- Denim & Pants Specialist

Apparel Designer -- Denim & Pants Specialist

Reports to: Design Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Location: Zumiez Home Office - Lynnwood, WA

Zumiez and Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, skateboards, and snowboards for young men and women who want to express their individuality through the fashion, music, art, and culture of action sports, streetwear, and other unique lifestyles. Headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, Zumiez operates over 700 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. We operate under Zumiez in North America, Blue Tomato in Europe, and Fast Times in Australia.

The Zumiez Product and Brand Services (PBS) team is responsible for over 30 unique brands spanning various categories, including men's and women's apparel, accessories, and snow/skate hardgoods. These brands are comprised of private label, licensed, and owned brands.

Position Purpose

Zumiez PBS is looking for a creative self-starter who is crucial in supporting the Mens Design team while mentoring junior team members throughout the creative process. This position will manage the design and development of the Mens and Womens Denim business, as well as the mens casual pants. Our ideal candidate is an energetic team player who can create and execute creative direction and lead in project timelines, with the ability to remain flexible, consistent, and detail-oriented while thriving in a fast-paced environment.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research and identify apparel trends that support brand and customer

• Design compelling products for assigned categories

• Work from production schedules to manage and lead multiple projects, prioritizing daily workloads and meeting established deadlines

• Effectively communicate expectations and deadlines to stakeholders

• Act as a mentor to junior members of the Design team, with opportunity to for a direct report

• Complete projects independently based on creative direction

• Confidently present new style concepts and product offerings in meetings with buying team

• Partner with Product Merchandiser to remain well-informed of performance and department initiatives related to assigned categories

• Develop strong partnerships with cross-functional teams and Product & Brand Services counterparts

• Travel and research apparel relevant to the Zumiez customer

• Actively identify areas of improvement in processes and proactively find solutions

• Other duties assigned by the Manager

Requirements:

• BA or equivalent coursework in Apparel preferred

• 3-4 years of experience in Apparel Design

• Denim Design and Development experience required

• Desire to work in a collaborative environment and build strong relationships with business partners & teammates

• Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, and Office 365

• Current with the fashion industry, trends, and brands relevant to Zumiez

• Able to give, receive, and apply constructive criticism

• Ability to present design ideas professionally

• Strong project management and organizational skills with experience in calendar planning and file management

• Excellent computer illustration skills

• Experience with branding and the ability to adhere to established brand guidelines

• Ability to remain detail-oriented while working in a fast-paced environment

• A balanced mix of creative and technical know-how

• Contribute to the Zumiez culture of empowerment, competition, teaching, learning, recognition, fairness, honesty, and fun

• Able to travel domestically and internationally for approximately 3-4 weeks each year.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Ability to sit/stand in a stationary position in an office environment for extended periods and work on a Mac or PC without limitations. Must be able to distinguish colors and inspect the material on the product.

Benefits

• Salary Range $75K - $80K yearly

• Medical, Dental, and vision Insurance, following an initial wait period.

• 401k after 1 year of service

• Paid Parental Leave

• Life Insurance

• 10 days of accrued paid vacation

• Bonus Potential

• Stock Purchase Program

• Open, casual, pet-friendly office environment

• Employee Discount on Zumiez product

• On-site skate park, on-site cafeteria

This job description is not all-inclusive and is only intended to describe the general nature of the work. All job responsibilities are essential job functions. Job responsibilities and requirements are subject to modification to accommodate individuals with disabilities reasonably. The Company reserves the right to modify the job description as it deems necessary for proper business operations.