Senior Technical Design, Woven Shirts Lead - Mens and Kids

Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, and Club Monaco, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

Position Overview
The Senior TD Lead position is a subject matter expert in their product area. It doesn't matter what brand they work for; they are the expert at the product area from a pattern perspective, measurement perspective, and construction perspective. They can work with any Designer in any brand and translate design intent into a pattern to enable a garment to be produced. They report directly to the VP of Tech Design and their main responsibility is to stay connected to the designers for their product area to be literate in fit direction for each designer's brand / product area. They can differentiate when something can be driven from a block and made as is, started from a block or previously run style, or started from scratch because it is a new fit with a specific balance or design aesthetic. While the Director is responsible for capacity management, calendar dates, working cross-functionally to execute a season; this position is the Director's eye's and ears to seasonal direction and is fundamentally responsible for feeding information to the Director so that work can accurately flow in the department. The result is Sr. TD Leads working on complicated styles (seasonal) with Design while core, repeat, basic styles flow through the volume driven low and medium touch pipelines. Sr. TD Lead will work across several brands and with different Designers. This position also partners with the off-shore team to ensure global resources have the tools and training they need to be successful.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

* The Sr. TD Lead is responsible for partnering with Design on complicated styles not able to be owned by the Sr. Tech Designer and/or Technical Designer. This is specific to construction sketches (to figure out how to best construct a design detail) or fits taken from existing fits.
* The Sr. TD Lead is also responsible for take down styles from adults to children's making sure that tech packs are stream-lined as needed to eliminate differences being done during production.
* The Sr. TD Lead will also create tech packs, review proto and stock fit garments when they do not have complicated styles for construction, or new fits being modified during the season.
* The Sr. TD Lead reports directly into the VP of Tech Design but partners with the Director level to know what their work is and what the expectation are going into a specific season.
* The Sr. TD Lead collaborates with the TD Director to ensure the Director is kept abreast of all developments to enable accurate seasonal execution of volume driven product. Please note: this is mentioned in this job description because there will be points in a seasonal calendar or even outside of a seasonal calendar where the Sr. TD Lead is collaborating with Design on something new to eventually put it into a season. It is essential that the Sr. TD Lead know what is possible from a timing standpoint.
* The Sr. TD Lead partners to create the necessary tools for simplification upon approval of design intent. This is done in parallel with the development of a new fit in partnership Sr. Product Specialist or Product Specialist as needed if a new fit is being created. These tools include but are not limited to: labeling combo kits, packing combo kits, block body spreadsheets, Gerber Patterns, etc....
* The Sr. TD Lead is accountable for knowing the supplier matrix for their brand and category to assist the Tech Design Director and PD Teams on placing product correctly each season to ensure the best possible quality.
* The Sr. TD Lead is ultimately responsible for ensuring a robust RISK ASSESSMENT is done for the entire line (includes no, low, medium, and high touch styles).
* The Sr. TD Lead is accountable for the creation of or alteration of Adobe Illustrator Sketches as needed.
* The Sr. TD Lead receives prototype garments and schedules fitting with Design in efforts to gain approval for new fits. All fit comments, sketches, and digital photos are written by the Sr. TD Lead and stored in the PLM system via the previously created Tech Pack.
* The Sr. TD Lead is accountable for ensuring the pre-established grade is flawlessly applicable to the new fit in order to ensure design intent is executed for all sizes.
* The Sr. TD Lead partners with the team to ensure accurate Points of Measure are used for production ready tech packs.
* This position is responsible and accountable to schedule and coordinate all fittings related to new fits. They include virtual fittings, in person fittings, and some travel when needed. This position drives a global team, and therefore fittings can be held across teams from different offices/times globally. Expectations are to partner with leadership to develop a flexible work life balance while still driving closure to each style seasonally.
* Responsible for ensuring all seasonal tracking reports are completed on time and accurately to enable leadership to aggregate totals as needed. · E- mail, phone and video conference communication with NY/HK and other global offices.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

* Degree or Certification in Apparel Manufacturing, Design or equivalent work experience
* 10+ years in apparel related role
* Good verbal and written communication skills · Strong organizational skills and ability manage competing priorities.
* A sense of urgency and attention to detail
* Responsible and accountable
* Ability to proactively problem solve
* Knowledge of 3D programs a must · Illustrator sketching a must Computer Skills: Gerber, PLM, PDM, Adobe Illustrator, MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word