Design Director – Seasonal Accessories

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director – Seasonal Accessories

Company: Randa Apparel & Accessories (RAA)

Location: Rosemont, IL, US

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design & Product Development (Operations adjacent)

Date Posted: 2026-06-18

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads the seasonal creative strategy and product development for Gloves, Headwear, and Cold Weather accessories across Men's and Women's categories.

• Drives design quality, speed to market, and product storytelling to support commercial viability and brand objectives.

• Manages and develops a high-performing design team, fostering innovation through AI, digital tools, and process modernization.

• Collaborates closely with Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing, and other cross-functional teams to align design with business goals, channel strategy, and margin targets.

• Champions responsible design practices, including material efficiency, sustainable material exploration, and product durability.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily in Design, it has significant operational responsibilities related to product lifecycle management, process optimization within the design function, and cross-functional operational alignment. It requires a strategic mindset akin to GTM operations, focusing on bringing products to market efficiently and effectively. The emphasis on AI, digital tools, and process modernization indicates a forward-thinking operations approach within the design department.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute seasonal creative strategies for Gloves, Headwear, and Cold Weather categories, translating brand direction, consumer insights, and market trends into commercially successful product assortments.

• Define the design vision, including trend identification, color palettes, material selection, construction techniques, and key seasonal product narratives.

• Oversee the end-to-end product development process from concept ideation through sample approval and pre-production readiness, ensuring creative intent, quality, costing, and timing are met.

• Partner with Sourcing, Offshore Sourcing, and factory teams to ensure design feasibility, material development, sample execution, cost targets, and quality standards are achieved.

• Facilitate clear and actionable design-to-sourcing handoffs, providing comprehensive specifications and requirements.

• Align design direction with Merchandising, Sales, licensors, and customers, ensuring support for assortment architecture, pricing strategies, margin goals, channel-specific needs, and go-to-market priorities.

• Lead design storytelling efforts for all internal, licensor, and customer-facing presentations, including trend reports, concept boards, line reviews, and product narratives.

• Leverage business performance data, retail feedback, and customer insights to inform future design strategies and product recommendations.

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design team, establishing clear standards, priorities, and accountability.

• Optimize design workflows, seasonal documentation, sample review processes, and cross-functional alignment to enhance speed, clarity, and execution efficiency.

• Drive the adoption of AI, PLM, CAD tools, digital libraries, and responsible design practices to improve efficiency, foster innovation, and support product integrity goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership and operational execution. The emphasis on "speed to market," "process modernization," "efficiency," and "cross-functional alignment" directly aligns with GTM and operational excellence principles, even within a design context. The requirement to "advance AI, PLM, CAD tools, digital libraries" points to a need for operational efficiency improvements through technology adoption.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field is typically expected for a Director-level role, though extensive relevant experience can often substitute.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in accessories, apparel, or consumer product design, with a strong preference for experience in seasonal accessories, cold weather gear, headwear, or gloves.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to balance creative vision with commercial realities, including cost, margin, quality, production feasibility, and customer needs.

• Extensive experience partnering with cross-functional teams, including Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Packaging, licensors, global offices, and factory teams.

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Demonstrated experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.

• Expertise in CAD tools for product design and visualization.

• Strong understanding of market trends, competitive intelligence, and consumer insights relevant to seasonal accessories.

• Experience in developing and presenting seasonal creative strategies and product lines.

• Ability to manage budgets, costing, and margin targets within product development.

• Excellent leadership, team management, and talent development skills.

• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with emerging AI-enabled design tools and digital design libraries.

• Knowledge of sustainable material exploration and responsible design practices.

• Familiarity with global sourcing and manufacturing processes.

• Experience working with iconic brands or in a multi-brand environment.

• Understanding of assortment architecture and channel-specific strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, PLM, and CAD tools are critical for operational efficiency in design. The mention of "AI-enabled design tools" suggests a need for candidates to be forward-thinking and adaptable to technological advancements that impact operational workflows. The "10+ years" experience level implies a need for proven leadership and strategic operational thinking.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 10 years of relevant design work, with a strong emphasis on seasonal accessories, cold weather gear, headwear, and gloves.

• The portfolio should demonstrate a clear progression of skills and leadership, highlighting projects from concept to final product.

• Include case studies or detailed examples of how design decisions were informed by market trends, consumer insights, and business objectives (e.g., cost, margin, channel strategy).

• Showcase examples of translating brand direction into commercially viable and brand-right assortments.

• Highlight projects that demonstrate an understanding of material innovation, construction techniques, and product development processes. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of experience in optimizing design workflows, seasonal documentation, and sample review processes.

• Examples of how cross-functional collaboration was managed to improve speed, clarity, and execution in product development.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating the implementation or adoption of digital tools (e.g., PLM, CAD, digital libraries, AI tools) to enhance design efficiency and effectiveness.

• Examples of how design considerations supported product integrity, sustainability initiatives, or material efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is critical for assessing a candidate's practical application of design principles and their understanding of the operational aspects of product development. The emphasis on "process optimization," "workflow improvement," and "digital tool adoption" directly relates to operational efficiency and the ability to manage complex product lifecycles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $103,000 - $115,500 per year

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary.

• Hybrid work schedule, offering flexibility between office and remote work.

• Three weeks of paid time off (PTO) within the first year of employment.

• Comprehensive insurance coverage:

  • Company-provided life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
  • Health, vision, and dental insurance options with low employee contributions.

• Paid parental leave.

• Commuter benefit plan.

• Optional supplemental benefits at a group discount rate: supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and accident & critical illness insurance.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Unlimited access to an award-winning online fitness and wellness program.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time). The hybrid work schedule allows for flexibility in how these hours are structured.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Director-level design role in the Chicago metropolitan area, aligning with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals. The hybrid work arrangement and comprehensive benefits package are attractive to operations-adjacent professionals seeking work-life balance and robust support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Apparel & Accessories Manufacturing and Retail. Randa Apparel & Accessories (RAA) is a global leader with over 100 years of experience.

Company Size: RAA operates across 11 countries with a portfolio of 30 iconic brands, indicating a large, established global enterprise. The company size suggests a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact.

Founded: Over 100 years ago, signifying a long history of industry leadership, stability, and established operational practices.

Team Structure:

• The Design Director leads a dedicated Design team responsible for specific accessory categories (Gloves, Headwear, Cold Weather).

• This team collaborates closely with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Packaging, and potentially licensor/customer teams.

• The role involves interaction with internal Randa offices, global sourcing partners, and factories, indicating a matrixed and collaborative reporting structure. Methodology:

• RAA emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging consumer insights, market trends, and business performance data to inform design and product strategies.

• The company focuses on "process modernization," including the adoption of AI, digital tools (PLM, CAD), and workflow improvements to enhance speed, efficiency, and quality in product development.

• There is a stated commitment to responsible design practices and sustainability.

Company Website: https://www.randa.net/ (Note: The provided URL links to ADP, but Randa's primary domain is randa.net)

📝 Enhancement Note: RAA's long history suggests a culture that values expertise and established processes, while the focus on "fashioning their future" and embracing new technologies like AI indicates a commitment to innovation and growth. The emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion is a key cultural differentiator. For operations professionals, this means a blend of structured processes and a drive for continuous improvement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior leadership position within the Design function, with significant operational responsibilities and cross-functional influence. It sits at the Director level, managing a team and strategic initiatives that impact product lifecycle and go-to-market success.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director likely reports to a VP of Design, Head of Product, or a similar senior executive overseeing the product creation lifecycle. They will manage a team of designers and collaborate extensively with peers in Merchandising, Sales, and Operations.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's role directly impacts revenue through the creation of commercially viable, brand-aligned product assortments. Their ability to improve speed to market, enhance product quality, and manage costs directly influences profitability and competitive positioning. Their leadership in process modernization and digital tool adoption contributes to the operational efficiency of the entire product development pipeline.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into VP-level roles overseeing broader design portfolios or product categories.

• Strategic Operations Influence: Opportunity to spearhead further operational improvements within the product development and GTM processes, potentially leading initiatives beyond traditional design.

• Specialization & Innovation: Deepen expertise in areas like sustainable design, AI in product development, or specific product categories.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Transition into broader product management or operational leadership roles that leverage their understanding of the entire product lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique perspective on the upstream operational drivers of product success. Growth opportunities may involve transitioning into roles that manage broader operational aspects of product creation, supply chain integration, or GTM strategy, leveraging their deep understanding of the product lifecycle from concept to market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Rosemont, IL, and offers a Hybrid work schedule. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, likely with dedicated design studios, meeting rooms, and workspace areas.

Office Location(s): Rosemont, IL. This location provides access to the broader Chicago metropolitan area's talent pool and business ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model implies a need for effective remote collaboration tools and practices, alongside in-office collaboration for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional alignment.

• Access to design software, PLM systems, and potentially digital libraries will be integral to the daily workflow.

• The environment is described as fast-paced, encouraging collaboration and continuous learning, which is typical for dynamic consumer goods companies.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week with hybrid flexibility, allowing professionals to manage their time effectively while ensuring key in-office days for collaboration and team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment suggests a need for candidates who are self-motivated, organized, and adept at managing their time and communication across different work settings. Operations professionals will find this environment conducive to managing projects that require both focused individual work and collaborative team efforts.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screens applications for basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Hiring Manager (likely VP of Design or similar) to assess experience, leadership style, and strategic thinking relevant to the role.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where candidates present their design portfolio, showcasing their work, creative process, and problem-solving approach. This will likely include discussions on how they managed projects operationally (e.g., timelines, cross-functional collaboration, problem resolution).

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Merchandising, Sales, and Sourcing/Product Development to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of business needs, and ability to align design with operational realities.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in seasonal accessories, cold weather, headwear, and gloves.

Focus on projects that highlight your ability to translate market trends and consumer insights into commercially successful products.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: For each project, be prepared to discuss:

  • Your role and responsibilities in the product lifecycle.
  • How you collaborated with Merchandising, Sales, and Sourcing.
  • Challenges faced (e.g., cost, timeline, material sourcing) and how you overcame them.
  • Your contribution to process improvements or efficiency gains.
  • Use of PLM, CAD, and other relevant tools.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., sales performance, adoption rates, margin contribution, speed to market improvements).

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation to tell a compelling narrative for each project, explaining the problem, your solution, and the outcome.

• Showcase Brand Understanding: Demonstrate how you understand and apply brand guidelines and how your designs contribute to brand equity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for case studies or hypothetical scenarios related to developing a seasonal collection, addressing cost challenges, or presenting a line review.

• Practice articulating your design process and how it integrates with operational workflows.

• Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you build and motivate design teams.

• Research Randa Apparel & Accessories, their brands, and their market position to demonstrate informed interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should treat it as a presentation of their operational capabilities within design—demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also project management, cross-functional alignment, and problem-solving within defined business constraints.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for visual design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Candidates must be highly proficient.

• PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) Systems: Crucial for managing product data, workflows, and collaboration throughout the product lifecycle. Experience with specific PLM software (e.g., Centric PLM, Browzwear, PTC FlexPLM) is highly valuable.

• CAD Tools: Used for 2D and 3D product design, visualization, and technical specifications. Familiarity with industry-standard CAD software is expected.

• AI-enabled Design Tools: Emerging tools for trend analysis, concept generation, or pattern making. Experience or familiarity with these is a plus, indicating forward-thinking capabilities.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, the Design Director will likely interact with reporting tools to analyze sales data, market trends, and customer feedback to inform design decisions. This may include CRM data, sales dashboards, or market research platforms. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how CRM data and sales insights influence design decisions is important. Familiarity with how automation impacts design workflows (e.g., through PLM or AI tools) is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in design software (Adobe Suite, CAD) and product lifecycle management tools (PLM) are key operational requirements for this role. The mention of AI tools points towards a need for candidates who can leverage technology to streamline processes and drive innovation in product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Modernization: A drive to adopt new technologies (AI, digital tools) and improve existing processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness in design and product development.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing) to achieve shared business objectives.

• Customer Centricity: Designing products that meet customer needs, align with brand direction, and are commercially viable.

• Efficiency & Speed to Market: A commitment to streamlining workflows and meeting deadlines to ensure timely product launches.

• Quality & Brand Integrity: Maintaining high standards in design execution and ensuring all products uphold brand identity and quality expectations.

• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Creating an inclusive workspace where all associates feel empowered to contribute their authentic selves.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with multiple departments. Expect a dynamic environment where design input is integrated into broader business strategies.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: While creative, the approach is grounded in data—market trends, consumer insights, and business performance—driving objective decision-making.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture that likely encourages open communication and constructive feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Global Mindset: Working with international teams and sourcing partners requires an adaptable and globally aware collaboration style.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values around DEI and empowering associates, combined with the operational focus on efficiency and innovation, suggest a culture where professionals are encouraged to contribute ideas and drive improvements. For operations professionals, this means an environment that likely values process optimization and data-driven strategies.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Commercial Constraints: The primary challenge will be to innovate and elevate design while adhering to strict cost, margin, production feasibility, and timeline requirements.

• Managing Global Supply Chains: Navigating the complexities of international sourcing, manufacturing, and quality control for diverse product lines.

• Accelerating Speed to Market: Continuously improving processes to bring seasonal collections from concept to store shelves faster in a competitive market.

• Driving Digital Transformation: Championing and implementing new technologies (AI, PLM, advanced CAD) within a potentially established team and processes.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless communication and shared understanding across multiple departments with potentially competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design & Technology: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge design tools, AI applications, and digital platforms in product development.

• Strategic Business Acumen: Deepen understanding of retail operations, merchandising, sales strategies, and financial targets through close collaboration.

• Leadership Development: Enhance team leadership, talent management, and strategic planning skills within a senior management role.

• Sustainability & Responsible Design: Advance knowledge and implementation of sustainable materials and ethical design practices within a major apparel company.

• Brand Portfolio Management: Gain experience managing design for a diverse portfolio of well-known brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professionals looking to enhance their operational and strategic capabilities within a creative industry. Overcoming the challenges will require strong project management, communication, and a proactive approach to process improvement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a seasonal accessory collection, from initial trend research to final sample approval. How do you ensure commercial viability and brand alignment?" (Focus on your operational workflow and decision-making criteria).

• "How do you balance creative innovation with cost, margin, and production feasibility constraints? Provide an example." (Highlight your ability to manage trade-offs).

• "Walk us through a time you improved a design process or workflow. What was the challenge, what steps did you take, and what was the outcome?" (Showcase your process optimization skills).

• "How do you foster collaboration between design, merchandising, and sourcing teams to ensure a smooth product development cycle?" (Demonstrate your cross-functional communication and alignment strategies).

• "What is your experience with PLM systems, CAD tools, and emerging AI design technologies? How have you leveraged them to improve efficiency or product quality?" (Emphasize your technical and operational toolkit). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Randa Apparel & Accessories and this specific role?" (Research RAA's brands, market position, and recent initiatives).

• "How do you approach leading and developing a design team?" (Discuss your leadership style and talent management philosophy).

• "How do you align your design vision with the company's business objectives and go-to-market strategies?" (Connect your creative output to business results).

• "How do you contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment?" (Reflect on company values). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type, category, or chronological order.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each selected project, clearly articulate:

  • The objective/problem statement.
  • Your specific role and contributions.
  • The design process and tools used (mentioning PLM, CAD, etc.).
  • How you collaborated with other functions (Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing).
  • Challenges encountered and how you resolved them (e.g., cost issues, material sourcing).
  • The final outcome and quantifiable results (e.g., adoption rate, sales impact, efficiency gains).

• Visual Appeal: Ensure your presentation is visually polished, reflecting your design acumen.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Prepare to present key highlights efficiently, ready to dive deeper if asked.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach developing a new line for a specific category based on market trends and RAA's brand portfolio.

• Consider how you would handle a situation where a key material for a product line becomes unavailable or significantly increases in cost.

• Be ready to present a "mock line review" for a hypothetical collection, justifying your choices based on market, business, and operational factors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize a candidate's ability to blend creative talent with strong operational execution. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with process management, cross-functional collaboration, and technology adoption as much as their design aesthetic.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the ADP recruitment portal linked in this job posting.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to specifically highlight your experience in seasonal accessories, cold weather gear, headwear, and gloves. Ensure it showcases not only design creativity but also your operational process, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Include specific examples of how you managed product development from concept to pre-production.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 10+ years of experience, leadership roles, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, PLM, and CAD tools. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on contributions to speed to market, cost management, and process improvements. Integrate keywords such as "seasonal strategy," "product development," "cross-functional leadership," and "process optimization."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and how you integrate operational efficiency into creative workflows. Prepare detailed examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio confidently, focusing on the operational aspects of your projects.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Randa Apparel & Accessories, their brand portfolio, market position, and any recent news or initiatives related to sustainability or technology adoption. Understand their commitment to DEI and how your values align.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions for a Design Director role with significant operational responsibilities. All details, especially regarding specific processes and technologies, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the interview process.