Associate Design Director Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

At RAA, we trust and believe in our associates to fashion their future.

Randa Apparel & Accessories is one of the world’s leading fashion clothing and accessories companies, operating across 11 countries with a portfolio of 30 iconic brands, including Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Totes, Isotoner, and Columbia Sportswear. With over 100 years of industry leadership, RAA continues to produce exceptional products and services, delighting customers and empowering partners worldwide. From the #1 dress pant brand in North America to the #1 belt and wallet, RAA sets the standard for excellence and innovation

We empower our associates, create growth opportunities at every level, and strive to make RAA the best place to build a career.

Want to work at a diverse, equitable, & inclusive workspace where associates are encouraged to bring their true, authentic selves?

Apply today and fashion your future with RAA.

Location: Rosemont, IL

Salary: $103,000 - $115,500

Required: Must submit a portfolio of work during the application process.

Role Summary

The Design Director, Seasonal Accessories manages the business for all design across Gloves, Headwear, and Cold Weather categories for Men’s and Women’s. This role owns the seasonal creative strategy and translates brand direction, customer needs, consumer insights, market trends, and competitive intelligence into commercially viable, brand-right assortments.

This leader is accountable for elevating design quality, improving speed to market, strengthening product storytelling, and ensuring design direction supports assortment architecture, channel strategy, margin goals, and go-to-market priorities. The Design Director leads a high-performing team while building foundational AI, digital tool, and process modernization capabilities within the design function.

Role Scope

• Categories: Gloves, Headwear, Cold Weather for Men’s and Women’s
• Owns seasonal design strategy from concept through sample approval and pre-production readiness
• Leads the Design team and partners closely with Merchandising, Sales, Packaging, Sourcing, and Offshore Sourcing teams
• Supports internal, licensor, and customer-facing presentations, including seasonal trend direction, concept boards, line review materials, and product storytelling
• Partners with sourcing and factory teams to leverage supplier capabilities, develop materials, improve sample execution, and resolve design, cost, quality, and timing challenges
• Advances responsible design practices, including material efficiency, sustainable material exploration, product durability, and design choices that support product integrity goals

Key Responsibilities

Creative Strategy & Product Direction

• Own seasonal creative strategy across assigned categories, translating brand direction, customer needs, market trends, and competitive insights into commercial assortments
• Set the design vision for trend, color, materials, construction, product storytelling, and key seasonal statements
• Review and approve concepts, CADs, materials, color palettes, and product details to ensure brand alignment, quality, and differentiation

Product Development, Materials & Execution

• Lead design from concept through sample approval and pre-production readiness, ensuring creative intent, specifications, costing, timing, and quality expectations are met
• Partner with Sourcing, Offshore Sourcing, and factory teams on feasibility, materials, construction, sample execution, cost, and quality
• Ensure design-to-sourcing handoffs are clear, complete, and actionable

Business, Customer & Presentation Alignment

• Align design direction with Merchandising, Sales, licensors, and customers on assortment architecture, pricing, margin goals, channel needs, and go-to-market priorities
• Lead design storytelling for internal, licensor, and customer presentations, including trend direction, concept boards, line reviews, and product narratives
• Use business performance, retail feedback, and customer insights to inform future design strategies and product recommendations

Team, Process & Innovation

• Build and develop a high-performing design team with clear standards, priorities, expectations, and accountability
• Improve workflows, seasonal documentation, sample review processes, and cross-functional alignment to increase speed, clarity, and execution
• Advance AI, PLM, CAD tools, digital libraries, and responsible design practices to support efficiency, innovation, sustainability, and product integrity

Key Success Metrics

• Customer and licensor adoption of seasonal assortments
• Achievement of seasonal milestones, calendar deadlines, and sample readiness targets
• Accuracy and quality of samples, CADs, product specifications, and design handoffs
• Cost and margin alignment across assigned categories
• Strength of product storytelling, presentation readiness, and go-to-market support
• Design quality, brand consistency, product differentiation, and commercial viability
• Team performance, engagement, retention, and talent development
• Progress advancing AI, PLM, CAD, digital library, and standardized workflow adoption
• Measurable improvement in process efficiency, cross-functional alignment, and execution speed
• Progress supporting responsible design, material innovation, product durability, and sustainability initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years of accessories, apparel, or consumer product design experience, preferably in seasonal accessories, cold weather, headwear, gloves, or related categories
• Ability to balance creative vision with cost, margin, quality, production feasibility, and customer needs
• Experience partnering with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Packaging, licensors, customers, global offices, and factory teams
• Travel domestically and internationally approximately 30% to collaborate with Randa offices, sourcing partners, and factories
• Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, PLM, CAD tools, digital design libraries, and emerging AI-enabled design tools

What we Offer:

• Competitive base salary.
• Hybrid work schedule.
• Three weeks of paid time off within the first year of employment.
• Company provided life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and paid parental leave.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance options with low employee contributions. 
• Commuter benefit plan. 
• Optional supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and accident & critical illness insurance offered at a group discount rate.
• 401(k).
• Unlimited access to our award-winning online fitness and wellness program.
• A great place to work, fast-paced, with terrific career growth