About this opportunity
vineyard vines lists this Senior Director, Men's Design opportunity in stamford, Connecticut. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
vineyard vines is a highly successful, privately held, American clothing and accessory retailer founded in 1998 on Martha’s Vineyard by brothers, Shep & Ian Murray. With Shep & Ian still at the helm today, vineyard vines has experienced exponential year over year growth and now operates over 120 retail locations including an outlet division, a successful e-commerce business, domestic distribution center, and expanding corporate headquarters. In addition, vineyard vines is carried in major department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as well as numerous specialty boutiques across the US.
vineyard vines was founded on a state of mind that Every day should feel this good.
You don’t need to be on a beach, by the ocean or on vacation to have Every day should feel this good moments. It’s a state of mind that we all experience, and one where everyone is invited. At vineyard vines, we don’t just live an #EDSFTG life away from our desks—we bring it to work with us, too.
In our stores, at our Harbor Drive headquarters or working remotely, our company culture is fun, encouraging and welcoming to all. We work hard and play harder, and we never take ourselves too seriously. And while we have many company goals, our number one priority is making vineyard vines a great place to work for all employees.
Our team is our family, and we’d never have grown to where we are today without them.
We’re committed to building an inclusive team across all channels, departments and stores within our community. We hope you’ll join us and see what the smiling pink whale is all about.
Overview
The Senior Director, Men’s Design is a highly creative, strategic design leader responsible for setting the overall vision, aesthetic, and direction of vineyard vines’ men’s product. This role leads the Men’s Design team from concept through production, ensuring product is authentic to the brand’s optimistic, coastal lifestyle while remaining commercially compelling and trend-relevant.
Partnering closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Production, and Sales, this leader translates global inspiration and market insights into cohesive seasonal collections that align with business strategy and growth objectives. The Senior Director, Men’s Design partners with the VP, Design to set the creative tone for style, fit, fabric, and storytelling across Men’s categories, while ensuring consistency across businesses (e.g., Men’s, Women’s, Boys, Accessories) and continually elevating the brand.
This role is both visionary and hands-on—deeply involved in concepting, fittings, and fabric selection, while also building, mentoring, and inspiring a high-performing design team.
Key Responsibilities:
Creative Vision & Product Direction Partner with Leadership to set and own the overall creative direction for Men’s apparel and accessories, from seasonal concept through final execution
Translate global trends, cultural insights, and market research into brand-right, wearable designs
Ensure product aligns with vineyard vines’ heritage, lifestyle positioning, and business strategy
Establish and maintain consistency of look, style, and fit across men’s and related categories
Provide clear point-of-view and leadership during line reviews, fittings, and presentations
Design Execution Lead the creation of concepts, sketches, flats, fabric stories, trims, and color palettes
Oversee initial and ongoing fittings, providing detailed direction on style, fit, and construction
Select fabrics, washes, embellishments, and production techniques appropriate to brand and margin goals
Partner with Product Development and Production to proactively address design and execution challenges
Ensure selling-ready samples are delivered on time for sales meetings and key milestones
Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Designers, Design Assistants, Patternmakers, and Artists
Set clear expectations, manage workloads, and ensure adherence to design calendars and deadlines
Recruit, train, and develop talent; conduct performance evaluations and career development planning
Foster a collaborative, creative, and accountable team environment
Cross-Functional Partnership Collaborate closely with Merchandising to align design vision with assortment strategy and customer needs
Communicate effectively with Sales and Retail teams, incorporating feedback into future designs
Partner with Product Development on seasonal calendars, costing considerations, and execution timelines
Prepare and maintain line sheets, presentation boards, and design references for internal and external meetings
Present design concepts and seasonal direction to founders and cross-functional leadership
Trend, Market & Process Excellence Study domestic and international fashion trends, market competition, and consumer insights
Travel for inspiration, research, retail walkthroughs, and key trade shows
Maintain a comprehensive design reference library
Identify and execute opportunities for process improvement within the design function
What you bring:
Minimum 10 years of apparel design experience, including at least 4 years in a people management role
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field
Deep understanding of the apparel design process from concept through production
Strong technical skills, including fabric knowledge, garment construction, and fit
Excellent illustration and flat sketching abilities
Proficiency in CAD tools, including Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Strong merchandising sensibility with the ability to design commercially successful product
Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal skills
Proven ability to lead, influence, and collaborate across functions
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Flexible to seasonal demands, travel, and peak work periods
Every day will feel this good because:
We have a fun-spirited entrepreneurial culture filled with truly "good" people
We have flexible working hours to accommodate your personal life
We offer a generous employee discount so you can rep our lifestyle on-and-off the boat
We offer a competitive salary package, 401-K, commuter benefits, and paid-family leave, health savings, flex spending accounts, life & disability insurance
We have an onsite gym as well as health & financial wellness programs to keep you active
We offer 2 summer Fridays to take off in addition to a competitive vacation policy & holiday calendar
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Worksite address
stamford, CT, 06925, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.