Technical Design Manager

The Technical Design Manager will lead and inspire the Lulus Apparel Technical Design team to develop customer-right merchandise across all apparel categories, price points, and size extensions. They will oversee and set technical standards for all apparel lines to achieve desired results with consideration for the integrity of design, fit, fabric, trims, construction, grading, costs, and timelines. They identify improvement opportunities and implement efficiencies within our technical design and product creation lifecycle, create and implement tools, processes, and resource allocation to execute on Lulus' apparel vision, and hold internal and external partners accountable for excellence across all fit and quality success metrics.

Schedule: This position is full-time and requires working onsite at our Los Angeles office Monday through Friday.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee and set technical standards for all apparel lines to achieve the desired result with consideration for the integrity of design, fit, fabric, trims, construction, grading, costs, and timelines. Maintains and/or adjusts Lulus' brand fit standards as needed

• Ensure standards are accurately presented and effectively communicated

• Lead and organize fit sessions and ensures that fit intent and balance are effectively communicated to the vendor base

• Schedule and coordinate fit schedule for team and third-party fit model resources, ensuring budget is correctly maintained

• Collaborate with Product Development team to understand calendar and deadlines

• Meet consistently with Product Development and Production teams to review Technical Design team workflow. Partner with teams to re-prioritize current and future workload based on shifting priorities and bandwidth.

• Leverage customer feedback & technical knowledge to troubleshoot and resolve issues that are unique and may require a novel approach

• Identify potential fit, construction, cost, and quality concerns and make recommendations to ensure brand integrity

• Deliver high-quality product in fit, styling, detail, and functionality that enables Lulus to achieve its financial goals

• Manage and track competing seasonal deliverables and ensure team is appropriately equipped to support

• Review style grading and ensure fit consistency across all Lulus apparel lines

• Build new processes and tools to improve tech design workflow. Drive process changes to increase efficiency

• Lead and develop talent on the Technical Design team and foster their commitment to delivering an exceptional product

• Maintain professional and timely email correspondence internally, as well as with domestic & overseas vendors

• Contribute to building a team environment by providing leadership and technical expertise to Technical Designers ensuring department goals are met

• Establish performance objectives, appraise and reward performance, coach and develop employees through assignments, training, and regular feedback

• Resolve personnel problems by following company policies, procedures, and practices

• Review and update job descriptions, department structure, staffing levels, and all relative records

• Take all necessary measures to create and maintain a positive, productive, and safe work environment

• Prepare and manage the assigned budget

What You’ll Need

• 10+ years experience in the technical design of apparel or relevant training

• 2+ years of leadership experience in a product design/development team

• Extreme attention to detail and accuracy, as well as the ability to prioritize and make quick decisions

• Superior organizational skills and excellent communication skills; team-oriented; highly detail oriented and meticulous

• Thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment

• Honest and trustworthy with the highest integrity

• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines, balance creativity with technical and analytical capability

• Knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, silhouettes, colorways, sewing techniques, fabrication, and trim; familiarity with print design and manufacturing

• Excellent communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Excellent analytical skills

• Familiarity with analyzing customer review and returns data and integrating solutions into standards

• Motivated by continuous improvement, change, and creating opportunities and exemplifies Lulu’s core values

We’re ready to meet you! Come help us achieve our ambitious goals!

At Lulus, we believe our people are our greatest asset and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we can attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range for the role. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include an annual bonus and other benefit programs.