VP, Design, Kids & Baby, Gap Specialty

About the Role

The Design leader for Kids & Baby will lead design strategy decisions related to product design, development, and aesthetic across Kids and Baby Divisions for Gap Specialty. This leader will deliver an overall vision that outlines a plan to evolve and grow the Kids & Baby product offering, partnering closely with Merchandising and Product Development to ensure product meets customer need.

• Design, articulate and execute seasonal and multi-year product strategies for the Kids & Baby Divisions across Gap Specialty to grow market share.
• Consistently seek out global innovation; research and identify opportunities for new designs, trend, and ways of working that will enable Gap to achieve its short and long-term strategic, market share and revenue goals.
• Responsible for leading and providing creative direction to design team members and vendor partners.
• Responsible for leading & developing high performance Design Leaders.
• Accountable for achieving creative objectives while balancing financial goals for sales performance, margins, and average unit costs for Kids & Baby Divisions.
• Define, champion and protect the brand aesthetic, communicating the design vision and strategy for Kids & Baby to ensure organizational and cross-functional alignment.
• Adjust product strategies to positively influence in-season business performance.
• Develop and maintain strong internal and external cross-functional relationships with vendors, Merchandising and Sourcing/Production.

• College degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of product design and development experience with a strong record of cross-functional team leadership.
• Aesthetic/Taste level - Has a keen understanding of styling as it relates to the Gap brand and knows how to translate trends through the lens of the customer and brand filters.
• Extensive experience and knowledge in apparel design, techniques, processes and development. Deep experience in Kids & Baby required.
• Color/Construction - Has a great eye for color; understands the possibilities of fabric and construction; looks for new and innovative ways to use color, fabric, and details in design.
• Excellent leadership skills demonstrated by the ability to communicate each season’s design vision effectively.
• Proven ability to create and execute a multi-year product roadmap, setting the overall creative tone and leading creative design process.
• International travel to work with vendors required.