What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Design Director position at Sweet Apparel Inc?
📌 Position Overview
The Associate Design Director will support the Design Director in managing the design team and overseeing the development of all junior sportswear categories including dresses, knit tops, and lifestyle separates. The ideal candidate has 5–7 years of experience, strong merchandising knowledge, exceptional CAD skills, and the ability to guide designers while contributing creatively.
This role blends leadership, design execution, and merchandising strategy.
🛠 Key Responsibilities
Team Support & Project Management
- Assist the Design Director in overseeing the junior sportswear design team
- Help manage workflow, timelines, and project completion across all categories
- Provide direction and feedback to designers throughout the development process
- Ensure all design projects meet deadlines and align with brand vision and merchandising strategy
Design & CAD Creation
- Create CADs, colorways, and design layouts for juniors sportswear:
- Dresses
- Knit tops
- Woven pieces
- Cut & sew sportswear
- Support designers by reviewing and refining their CADs and design boards
- Build and update tech packs with accurate design details
Merchandising & Line Development
- Partner with the Design Director and merchandising to build strong assortments
- Use sales data and trends to guide which styles, fabrics, and price points to prioritize
- Help develop cohesive seasonal collections that meet market demand
- Participate in line reviews with sales and production teams
Trend, Fabric & Construction Knowledge
- Research trends in fabrics, silhouettes, youth culture, and retail
- Work with woven, knit, and blended fabrications confidently
- Collaborate with factories and production on samples, fits, and corrections
🎯 Required Qualifications
- 5–7 years of experience in apparel design, merchandising, or sportswear development
- Strong understanding of juniors sportswear, especially dresses and knit tops
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (CAD-heavy role)
- Strong merchandising lens — understanding assortments, price points, and best sellers
- Experience managing or guiding small design teams
- Ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-fashion wholesale environment
- Strong organization, communication, and leadership skills
⭐ Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in juniors or young contemporary
- Experience in fast fashion or wholesale
- Strong rapport with production and technical teams
- Knowledge of PLM or digital design systems