Designer Role

Senior Designer / Merchandiser - Kids Licensed Apparel

We are partnering with a long-standing and rapidly growing children's apparel company seeking a Senior Designer / Merchandiser to help lead and evolve its licensed kids business across sets, separates, and outerwear categories.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a highly creative, entrepreneurial environment and has a strong pulse on trends, color, innovation, and the future direction of the kids apparel space. The company has experienced significant growth over the past several years and is continuing to invest heavily in design, merchandising, and product innovation.

The ideal candidate combines strong design instincts with merchandising sensibility and understands how to create trend-right, commercially successful licensed product for boys and girls ages 2-14.
Responsibilities
Lead design and merchandising direction across licensed kids apparel categories including sets, separates, and outerwear
Identify key trends, seasonal opportunities, color direction, and newness within the market
Develop trend-right product concepts that balance creativity, innovation, and commercial appeal
Partner closely with sales, production, and overseas teams throughout the product lifecycle
Work hands-on within CAD and support artwork execution alongside freelance graphic artists and design assistants
Review and refine graphics, strike offs, color approvals, and product details to ensure elevated execution
Help drive category growth by identifying opportunities for new product direction and innovation
Maintain strong awareness of market trends, retail landscape, and competitive brands across fast fashion and licensed apparel
Collaborate within a transparent, highly creative, and non-corporate team environment
Qualifications
5+ years of experience within kids apparel design and/or merchandising
Strong licensed character experience required
Background working with licensed product across boys and girls categories preferred
Strong understanding of trend, color, graphics, and fashion direction
CAD proficiency required
Ability to balance creative vision with merchandising and commercial strategy
Experience working with overseas teams and cross-functional partners
Strong portfolio showcasing licensed product, graphics, and trend-forward design work
Entrepreneurial mindset with excitement around helping build and evolve a growing business
Additional Details
Flexible working structure with preference for candidates who enjoy in-person collaboration
Candidates outside of NYC may be considered if able to travel into the office periodically
Interview process includes video interviews, in-person meetings, portfolio review, and potentially a paid freelance project
Collaborative and highly creative environment with a lean NYC-based design and sales team