JOB TITLE: Technical Design Director

LOCATION: 1100 N. Lindbergh Blvd
                 St. Louis, MO
HOURS: Full-Time
REPORTS TO: President
CLOSE DATE: 11-30-2009



ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that merchandise is of most consistent brand-right fit, of appropriate quality fabric and construction to enhance Soft Surroundings’ brand and meet or beat customer’s expectations
• Monitor all Returns with urgency and follow-through to prevent continued shipping of unacceptable product and relisting of high returners
• Make in-season corrections as necessary and possible
• Participate with Quality Assurance in coaching them for top performance in spotting unacceptable receipts
• Work closely with Returns to assist as needed and prevent unacceptable quality/fit/construction from being returned to stock
• Oversee all Returns reporting
• Partner with Merchandising to translate product development ideas / designs through to manufacturing
• Communicate with vendors as needed to meet deadlines with product / sample requests accurately and promptly
• Assure vendor compliance with Vendor Business Requirements
• Participate in writing/updating of Vendor Business Requirements
• Continually evaluate TD systems and processes for efficiency and improvement
• Manage product testing process, fit model process and sample archives
• Help to accurately set and meet Return Rate goals

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The successful candidate will have a college degree with knowledge of computer software, specifically MS Word, Excel, Micrografx Designer, Gerber Web PDM, and Adobe Illustrator CS. Also requires fashion design, apparel manufacturing or pattern making background, as well as, problem-solving and formulation skills, math and calculation, reading and reasoning. Must have eight years of industry pattern making experience and/or technical design, in addition to, at least five years of managing technical designers.

Contact Information:
Qualified candidates may apply on-line by clicking the APPLY NOW option on the left side of the screen. Please paste a plain text resume into the "additional details" field of the on-line application.