The North Face: Color Developer (Global)

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

At The North Face we dare to lead the world forward through Exploration. We were born to Explore, Disrupt and to Lead. We were born to Love Wild Places and to Spark Curiosity. We believe that exploration is a mindset - both on the mountain and off the mountain - and it infuses everything we do. As a community of explorers, we stay curious about new ideas, places, and people.

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of adventure-loving people, The North Face just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit The North Face Careers or www.thenorthface.com.

What will you do?

As a member of the Materials team, the Color Developer is responsible for working closely with both the Color Quality Team and the Color Design Team to support the brand’s seasonal color needs. 

The ideal candidate has either spent time as a Color Analyst reviewing lab dips and bulk production, understands the technical components of color, is proficient with a spectrophotometer, and is also well versed in the creative side of the business, or has spent time in a design or creative role and has an interest in managing the technical side of a brand’s color palette while engaging with Design to support their aesthetic vision for the product.    

• Develop global seasonal color palette (chosen by design) for apparel, equipment, and footwear.
• Create and maintain seasonal color-calibrated .ase files and corresponding Design tools, as well as oversight of related equipment.
• Manage and communicate color feasibility, restricted approval, and consistency across multiple substrates.
• Create and track the development schedule for color.  Manage and enforce calendar dates and deadlines across different product categories and regions. Own updates to the calendar to ensure that key dates are met.
• Support the Design community’s ability to achieve their aesthetic vision for our products through educational seminars and/or services.
• Ensure color consistency across all global TNF categories and functions including apparel, equipment, accessories, and footwear.
• Manage Color QA tools, color libraries (digital and physical), color swatches, and color tools.
• Support the Color Coordinator’s responsibilities related to systems requirements for color, when needed.
• Review, document, and track color lab dip and print submissions
• Identify color issues and make recommendations for solutions, assuring corporate color standards are achieved by all suppliers and are commercially acceptable for production.
• Effectively communicate through challenges with internal and external global color partners

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundational skills you’ll need to succeed and excel.

The skills you will need in this position are:

• 3-5 years in Color Development, Design or Graphic Design.
• Experience with color calibrated printing.
• Color science and/or textile product dyeing and finishing experience or training.
• Spectrophotometer operation and related data-management skills.
• Proficient knowledge of the Adobe CC suite.
• Proficient MS Office skills (Word and Outlook).
• Intermediate MS Excel skills.
• Understands the natural tension between QA and Design and can manage tradeoffs accordingly.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excels at creative problem solving, communication, and collaboration.
• High color perception required (color vision). Testing required for qualification.

What do we offer you?

At The North Face, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

To learn more about The North Face’s benefits package, follow this