Senior Manager of Apparel Design | Tops, Woven Products, Yarns and Knits | Onsite (Montreal-based) | $120k-$150k + Bonus (15%)

The Company

This organization is a well-established North American fashion retailer specializing in accessible, trend-driven apparel for women. With decades of experience designing and distributing contemporary fashion, they operate a multi-channel retail model that includes hundreds of stores across Canada and the United States alongside a strong and growing e-commerce presence.

Their brands focus on delivering modern collections that balance style, quality, and value. By staying closely connected to consumer preferences and global fashion trends, they continue to evolve their product offerings while maintaining a strong reputation in the retail fashion market.

The Role

They are seeking a Senior Manager of Apparel Design to lead and inspire their design team. In this leadership position, the successful candidate will guide the creative direction of multiple product categories while ensuring collections align with the brand vision, customer expectations, and commercial objectives.

This role combines creative leadership with strategic oversight. The Senior Manager will mentor designers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure the design process consistently produces compelling, trend-relevant collections that perform strongly in the market.

The Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of designers, providing creative direction and guidance throughout the product development process.
• Oversee the design and development of seasonal collections across multiple apparel categories.
• Translate market insights, trend analysis, and brand strategy into cohesive design concepts and product assortments.
• Partner closely with merchandising and buying teams to ensure product lines align with sales strategies, pricing targets, and margin goals.
• Collaborate with technical design, production, and sourcing teams to ensure garments meet quality, fit, and cost expectations.
• Ensure adherence to development timelines and seasonal design calendars.
• Monitor market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive activity to keep collections relevant and forward-thinking.
• Guide the selection of fabrics, trims, washes, and finishes that enhance product quality and brand identity while respecting cost constraints.
• Participate in market research, including domestic and international trend exploration, to support seasonal concept development.
• Foster collaboration across departments to ensure smooth execution from concept through production.

The Requirements:

• Diploma or degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in apparel design, including leadership or management experience.
• Strong creative vision with a deep understanding of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and the retail apparel industry.
• Proven ability to lead and develop design teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Advanced knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong sense of color, fabric, and garment construction.
• Fluency in either English or French for daily communication with internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to balance creative direction with commercial goals and production realities.

Why Apply

Joining this organization means becoming part of a creative and collaborative team within a growing fashion retailer that values innovation and talent development. They offer a competitive compensation package that includes performance-based incentives, a retirement savings program with employer matching, flexible benefits coverage, employee discounts, exclusive product sales, and a flexible vacation policy.

If you are passionate about leading creative teams and shaping impactful apparel collections, they encourage you to apply and help drive the future direction of their design vision.

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