Office Manager + Design Assistant

OFFICE MANAGER + DESIGN ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: OFFICE MANAGER + DESIGN ASSISTANT

DETAILS: MINNEAPOLIS, MN

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Support the product design team by assisting in day-to-day responsibilities in the office to meet internal and external needs.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:

· Passionate about the apparel industry & art

· Possesses a strong design aesthetic and eye for fashion

· Ability to deliver under tight deadlines

· Knowledgeable in fashion and trend

· Proficient on Mac platforms

· Quick and eager to learn

· Driven to innovate and execute

· Self-motivated with a collaborative attitude

· Positive, Drama-free

· Operates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in role

· Passionate about developing & driving product assortments that make sense and will sell thru to the customer

TECHNICAL ABILITY:

· Understanding of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

· Base knowledge of fabrics, washes, treatments, and silhouettes

· CAD experience is not required, but a plus

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Work alongside team to learn internal product design and development process.

· Collaborate, strategize + develop deck presentations.

• Task examples includes realist sketches, color fill, layer fill, graphic placement, art boards.

· Work across a variety of apparel categories to deliver upon retailer expectations.

· Assist Designer/Merchandiser to develop and design trend right and compelling product to fit the needs and white space opportunities of the retailers we serve

· Work across a variety of apparel categories to deliver upon retailer expectations.

· Assist team with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailers.

· Maintain flexible working hours that account for calls across various time zones.

· Provide trend direction input when appropriate (example: making silhouette direction recommendations when necessary).

Office Tasks:

· Expectation is to be in office Monday-Friday in case anything is needed

· Primarily answering the door for FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL during regular business hours

· Opening packaging and sorting them in their appropriate locations

· Main point of contact for managing computer passwords

· Shipping packages for team members (as needed)

· Pull samples for designers & sales team as needed

· Returning inspirational/reference samples to retailers

· Sample management- organizing weekly sample development review and TOP photography

· Ordering office supplies

· Ordering color standards for Design

· Keeping office clean/organized

· Making FedEx labels for other team members

· Donations - drop off at Goodwill, Salvation Army

· Various projects that come up, for example; office reno scheduling, fabric organization or wifi issues

· Create style #s & upload style #s to PLM

· Onboarding and aiding in uploading necessary systems on new employee's computers

· Managing our employee exit checklist

· Managing Adobe Licenses

· Sending birthday wishes & gifts

· Planning team HH's / events

• PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
• LEARN:
• Learn the internal Tai product design and development process
• Fabric, Silhouette, Wash Techniques, Style #, Technical Design Process, Sampling Process, Sketching & Project Management Process
• STRATEGY:
• Research and provide trend insight from the market to architect a product strategy/assortment.

· Identify key item/white space/emerging trends with regards to silhouettes, fabric, color, techniques and trims to ensure product is consistently relevant and evolving with the market through trend shopping, online research (WGSN), etc.

• Ability to translate pre-peak trends to mid-tier/mass retailers
• Constantly brainstorming newness, in partnership with design.
• Regularly pull art inspiration for graphic artists.
• Meet with Sales Team to strategize upcoming needs/meeting goals & approach.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT:

• Develop product, in partnership with development designer based on market trends/retailer needs & white space.
• Comp Shop the market, online, Instagram, WGSN – finding inspiration everywhere
• Sample Handoff :
• Partner with designers to hand over TP’s to Tech team
• Manage sample ETA’s vs due dates
• Develop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.
• Partner with Assistant Design to assign style numbers for all new silhouettes.

• PRESENTATION:
• Assist Designer in organizing, prepare, pack apparel line for upcoming meeting. Time management skills
• Assist Designer/Merchandiser in presenting apparel concept and product lines (via CADS & samples) to various retailers
• Quick on your feet and comfortable with on the spot questions/challenges
• POST MEETING:
• Assist sales with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailers
• Communicate design meeting follow-up/ changes to internal and external groups (US design, overseas team, sales, merchants, TD team, as needed)
• Own design/art follow-ups post retailer meetings.
• Responsible for prioritizing needs for design team in partnership with sales team to ensure prompt response.
• Help drive urgent/one off chase requests
• MISC
• Flexible work hours due to conference calls overseas, Skype chat.
• Positive attitude and always looking to work smarter, not harder
• Be open to new ways of doing things - different – better – more efficient
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