Director Design, Development, and Sourcing Fish & Hard Goods & Gear

We are seeking a Director Design, Development, and Sourcing Fish & Hunt Hard Goods & Gear to join the Orvis Team! Strongest preference is for someone in our Sunderland, VT office regularly. For candidates not local to Sunderland, expectation is one week/month in Sunderland.

As a Director Design, Development, and Sourcing Fish & Hunt Hard Goods & Gear, you play a pivotal role in leading the design and development of our most innovative and technologically advanced fly fishing and hunting hard goods — work grounded by deep, first-hand angling experience, field knowledge, and real-world testing, not just concept or CAD. You are responsible for overseeing the entire product lifecycle from concept to launch, focusing on innovation, quality, and market trends within the fishing tackle and hunting industry.

This role combines technical expertise in materials and engineering with creative direction and team management. You will be a key leader on the Product Team, comprised of 2 direct reports as well as the lead designer of all reels, waders, and wading boots. You will partner with our Product Leadership Team to create clear roles and responsibilities, define our new processes, and identify opportunities for simplification and efficiency.

As a leader of multiple team members, you will inspire, guide, teach and elevate your team – owning their professional development and career paths.

This position reports to our Vice President of Product Design, Development, Sourcing, & Import Compliance and interfaces with multiple areas including merchandising, inventory management, marketing, finance, sourcing, wholesale, retail operations, manufacturing and ownership of the company. It is a director role that involves supervision of the Fish/Hunt Hard Goods product design, development/sourcing team. This is an exempt/ salary position.

• Lead a customer-obsessed Fish and Hunt Hard Goods Product Design & Development/Sourcing Team
• Lead a culture of partnership, communication, and collaboration across the organization
• Strategic Leadership:
  Develop and implement a strategic plan for new product design and development that aligns to deliver the Assortment Strategy, thus ensuring alignment with market and customer needs as well as company and financials goals, specifically target retail, AUC and IMU across all Fish/Hunt Hard Goods products.
• Design Inspiration – Lead the Hardgoods / Innovation Design Kickoff, the Design “blank canvas” to push the Orvis brand forward and ensure that we are leaders in innovation.
• Design Partnership – Partner and collaborate with Soft Goods Designer on seasonal
• Design Kick Off, DDR and Line Adoption Meetings to ensure a One Orvis Design POV
• Product Lifecycle Management:
  Oversee all phases of product design and development for Fish & Hunt Hard Goods, from initial concepting and prototyping to field testing and manufacturing to on time product launch. Ensure that the Hardgoods PDD and Sourcing team is prepared on time for all milestones and inspire cross functional partners across all Hardgoods to prepare milestones and ensure they happen on time.
• Deliver the Line:
  Ensure that the products agreed upon through the Design Kickoff and Assortment Strategy deliver on time and are discussed at DDR 1, 2 and Final Line Adoption. Aim for 90% of products aligned upon launch on time.
• People Management - Coach the team by providing consistent and candid feedback to ensure great partnership and collaboration with cross functional partners. Guide team to have effective communication and influence decision making. Hold the team accountable for milestone preparation and on-time delivery of product. Inspire the team to make decisions in milestones to reduce swirl and to keep all key partners up to date.
• People Development – Develop and empower direct reports by coaching and mentoring to build skills and support individual career development
• Mentorship:
  Provide mentorship to associates within the organization.
• Market and Trend Analysis:
  Utilize expert knowledge of fishing and hunting techniques, gear preferences, and market trends to identify new opportunities and guide/influence…