Design director – mexico city design office.position summarythe design director oversees the entire mexico city design office, leading a high-performing team responsible for licensed sports product execution across multiple leagues and 150+ team identities. This role focuses on strategic leadership, organizational oversight, and design operations at scale, ensuring the team delivers accurate, compliant, and high-quality design assets that meet business, licensing, and brand requirements. The design director partners with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to shape design strategy, optimize processes,
and drive the long-term growth of the design function.key responsibilitiesstrategic leadership & oversight- provide overall leadership for the mexico city design office, setting vision, priorities, and standards for the design team.- partner with executive leadership to align design strategy with broader company objectives, licensing requirements, and business growth plans.- oversee multiple design managers and senior designers, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and project ownership across the team.- represent the mexico city design organization in senior leadership discussions, providing updates on progress, challenges, and resource needs.organizational development- build and scale a high-volume design team capable of executing licensed sports product rollouts across all major leagues.- define talent development strategies, including recruiting, training, succession planning, and mentorship for managers, seniors, and emerging designers.- foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture that balances creativity with operational excellence.- conduct annual and mid-year performance reviews, ensuring structured, constructive,
and transparent evaluation of all team members- establish feedback loops between mexico city and new york offices, creating consistent channels for input, recognition, and improvement.process & plm optimization- serve as the executive sponsor of plm system adoption, driving continuous improvement in workflows, approvals, and data integrity.- partner with design managers to enforce process consistency, ensuring scalable and efficient workflows across multiple capsules and deadlines.- evaluate and implement tools, platforms, and systems that improve design efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.- champion a culture of operational discipline, reducing errors, minimizing rework, and increasing speed-to-market.compliance & quality assurance- oversee compliance across all leagues and licensors,
ensuring every product meets strict licensing and brand standards.- partner with senior stakeholders and licensing representatives to address escalations and resolve high-level approval challenges.- implement checkpoints and governance structures to maintain quality, accuracy, and compliance across all design outputs.cross-functional & global collaboration- act as the primary liaison between the mexico city design organization and cross-functional teams in new york and other offices.- partner with product development, licensing, merchandising, and production to align priorities and ensure seamless execution.- contribute to long-term business planning, assortment strategies, and market expansion initiatives by providing design insights and operational perspectives.- serve as a global thought leader,
influencing best practices across multiple offices and business units.team leadership & people management- serve as a trusted leader and resource for the mexico city team, with the ability to troubleshoot personal and interpersonal issues that may impact performance.- champion a culture of feedback, ensuring managers and senior designers are equipped to give and receive constructive input regularly.- demonstrate both data-driven decision-making (left brain) and empathetic, creative problem-solving (right brain) to support team growth and well-being.qualifications- bachelor's degree in product design, fashion design, or related field; advanced degree preferred.- 12+ years of design experience in apparel, accessories, or consumer products,
with at least 8+ years in a leadership role overseeing more than 20 employees.- proven track record of managing large-scale licensed product rollouts across multiple categories or leagues.- strong expertise in plm systems, design operations, and approval workflows.- demonstrated ability to lead and inspire diverse design teams across multiple levels and geographies.- exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence executive decision-making.- skilled in conflict resolution, employee coaching, and supporting both professional and personal growth within teams.- exceptional english speaking and writing required.- advanced level of illustrator knowledge is required.
? Design director
? Maxima apparel
? San miguel zinacantepec