Design Director

ABOUT US

Stio® is an omni-channel mountain brand that designs, develops and sells beautiful, functional, and innovative apparel, footwear and other accessories infused with the soul of the mountain lifestyle. With headquarters in Jackson, Wyoming, Stio draws inspiration from the surrounding Teton Range and offers product via Stio.com, catalog, B2B and its Mountain Studio® retail locations.

We live and love mountain life, and as such see ourselves as caretakers of the resources that provide it. We are proud partners of Protect Our Winters and the Conservation Alliance among many other organizations. We have a strong preferred materials platform, use Bluesign® approved textiles wherever possible, audit our supply chains for best practices, and operate our workplaces responsibly.

We think that outside is the best side and that you can’t improve on nature. It’s good for mind, body and soul, and it’s our responsibility to help enable access for all people, regardless of race, gender, beliefs, background or ability. We strive for inclusion at Stio and in our local and national communities.

YOUR ROLE

The Stio Design Director is an ambitious and experienced leader responsible for shaping the creative vision and leading the design strategy for all product categories including outerwear, sportswear, footwear, logowear, equipment, and accessories. This role requires a proactive, engaged leader who can define, champion and shepherd the creative vision from initial concept to final product to the customer experience ensuring cohesive, authentic and impactful product experience across all channels. By using design thinking you will apply a deep understanding of the customer and lead a product creation cycle that delivers goods that are user-centered, solution oriented and suited for the totality of the active mountain lifestyle.

As a key member of the product leadership team, you will be connected to the long range product vision as well as the business drivers. You will work closely with the leadership team to manage the seasonal timeline, integrate design’s vision in the Go To Market cycle, bring design to life through the creation team and influence business outcomes with clear, effective communication.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design Vision and Influence
• Define and execute long-term design strategies across categories, leading the business with innovative trend research, color, print, and pattern development
• Build and present concept, trend and seasonal GTM resources as needed to provide creative input and direction for all downstream GTM and customer experience activations such as photoshoots, styling, and overall visual presentation of the product
• Lead Stio's seasonal color vision across all categories applying trend research and Stio color identity, directing visual evidence collection, and overseeing surface design execution including prints and yarn dye patterns to ensure a consistent, inspiring brand language
• Maintain and evolve Stio's Design DNA, logo guidelines, construction standards, and color processes to ensure cohesive execution across categories
• Act as the voice of the future unmet customer needs championing and advocating for the creative team's vision and necessary resources in high-level discussions
• Product & Material Strategy
• Lead the design creation process from concept to product approval, ensuring our mission of creating inspired, elevated, functional design is consistently executed
• Lead innovation using the advanced development pipeline, creating concepts and validating construction challenges ahead of GTM commercialization to validate solutions prior to adoption into the seasonal line plan.
• Collaborate with Materials Managers to plan and direct all fabric and materials that align with seasonal merchandising and design intent
• Team Leadership & Resourcing
• Inspire, manage and mentor a team of designers, color/pattern specialists, and contractors, fostering innovation, collaboration, and executional excellence
• Champion product design vision within the Stio strategy group, including senior leadership, to share and execute long range plan
• Oversee design team workload and resource planning, manage external design partners, and be responsible for key areas of budget

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree or higher in creative design or related field
• 10+ years professional design experience in apparel/product development
• 5+ years Creative/Design Director management experience
• Management experience with 4+ direct reports
• Proven experience bringing performance product to market across multiple categories
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Experience with 3D design (Vstitcher preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and PLM systems
• Strong fashion illustration and technical drawing capabilities
• Expertise in pattern development, mock-ups, and prototype creation
• Advanced understanding of fabric performance, garment construction, and textiles
• Commitment to our company mission, vision, and values
• Ability to travel up to 20% (domestic and international) to support business initiatives

THE FINE PRINT

• Must be able to work in a sedentary position, move around the office, and occasionally move objects or boxes 15+ lbs
• This role can be remotely located anywhere within the continental US.
• Medical, Dental Vision plans
• Company Paid Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401k with Match
• Flexible paid time off policies
• Gear stipend, Company perks, and more

We provide competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives and benefits. The base salary range for this role is $100,000-$130,000. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of the range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors including experience, skills, and qualifications.

This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, we reserve the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed. Stio is an equal opportunity employer of all qualified individuals, including minorities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans & individuals with disabilities.