Design Director, Ready-to-Wear Pre-Collection

We are an American luxury lifestyle brand, founded in 2004. Anchored in the casual elegance of American sportswear, Tory’s design philosophy is defined by effortless silhouettes, innovative materials, eclectic juxtapositions of color, and the tension of past and present. The collections include ready-to-wear, handbags, footwear, accessories, jewelry, home and beauty.

Empowering women is the company’s guiding principle, expressed through Tory’s collections and reflected in the company culture as well as the work of the Tory Burch Foundation. Established in 2009, the Foundation provides women entrepreneurs in the United States with access to capital, education and community.

You are seeking a work environment where people are encouraged to dream, explore, discover and, as important, laugh together. If you’re prepared to work hard, create impact, and have fun while doing it, we would love to have you join #TeamTory. Apply today!

Life @ToryBurch is Special Because:

When you join us, you’re joining a global, purpose-led company on an exciting growth journey with an amazing culture and great benefits.

• Our culture is welcoming and inclusive -- everyone is empowered to make a difference.
• We have the best team in the world and believe in paying competitively and rewarding for high performance.
• Your overall well-being is important to us; we offer generous benefits to help you take care of your mental and physical health, create financial security, and achieve wellness in all areas of your life.
• We love seeing our employees wear our beautiful collections. You’ll receive a generous employee discount and access to exclusive sample sales.
• We are invested in your professional growth – you’ll have access to free executive coaching on-demand.
• We believe in the importance of giving back and you’ll have many opportunities to do just that through the Tory Burch Foundation and paid volunteer days.

This Role is Tailor-Made for You Because:

The Design Director, Ready-to-Wear Pre-Collection plays a critical role in driving the design and development of our RTW Pre-Collection. The candidate must be creative, organized, detail-oriented, possess strong technical skills, have experience working with the full product lifecycle and adaptable to shifting priorities. They must be passionate about product and have an elevated aesthetic to match the Tory Burch Brand.

A Day in the Life:

• Lead a team of Ready-to-Wear (RTW) designers in the creation of elevated product across the RTW Pre-Collection categories
• Manage RTW swimwear categories inclusive of coverups/caftans etc.
• Responsible for upholding design integrity, high-quality execution, and timeliness throughout the entire development process from concept through engineering and commercialization.
• Accountable for calendar adherence throughout the entire development process
• Create original sketches, detailed technical packs, and design specs for sampling.
• Research global fashion trends, fabric innovations, color, and silhouette to inspire seasonal direction.
• Give feedback to design team members in developing seasonal mood boards, color palettes, and themes that represent the seasonal storytelling
• Ensure cohesive storytelling and commercial relevance across the collection.
• Manage product lifecycle from concept through final samples.
• Manage and mentor a team of designers and assistant designers; foster creative development, collaboration, and performance.
• Partner with merchandising to analyze performance and guide future product assortments.
• Maintain excellent partnerships and clear communication with internal cross-functional and external teams, including Merchandising, Product Development /Technical Design
• Attend fittings and provide clear design direction and comments to ensure fit and aesthetic alignment.

To Land This Role:

• 12+ years of design experience in womenswear, with a strong focus on wovens. 
• Proven leadership experience, including managing design teams and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proven track record of successful RTW collections from concept to market.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fabric behavior, and patternmaking.
• Excellent hand sketching and/or digital sketching ability.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), PLM systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Experience developing product directly with factories; understanding of development from concept through engineering
• Excellent sense of style, color and ability to conceptualize a collection
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills; ability to form partnerships to collaborate, influenc