OverviewThe Chief Product Design Director serves as the company's Chief Product Designer, setting the overall creative, design, and visual direction for the retail brand across product design, Exclusive Brands, Private Label, brand expression, and in-store experience. This executive leader establishes the vision for Cavender's proprietary brands while ensuring consistency and authenticity across all customer touchpoints, including physical stores, digital channels, and customer-facing brand moments. This role is responsible for defining and leading the company's overall product design strategy while driving the creative vision and long-term growth of Cavender's Exclusive Brands and Private Label portfolio. The Chief Product Design Director reports to the Chief Merchandising Officer and partners closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, Design, Planning & Allocation, Marketing, and Retail Operations to create differentiated products and compelling brand experiences that strengthen customer loyalty, support financial objectives, and reinforce Cavender's position as the leading Western and workwear retailer. The Chief Product Design Director provides strategic oversight, creative leadership, and governance to elevate the brand while balancing innovation, commercial success, and operational execution.
Duties and Responsibilities - Support the "Cavender's Culture" and drive our Mission, Vision, and Values
- Define and lead the enterprise-wide creative vision across product design, Exclusive Brands, Private Label, brand expression, and retail environments.
- Establish innovative design strategies that strengthen Cavender's brand identity, create differentiated product offerings, and support customer engagement and business objectives.
- Champion trend forecasting, consumer insights, and design innovation to ensure the company remains a leader in the Western lifestyle industry.
- Lead the creative strategy, product design direction, and long-term vision for Cavender's Exclusive Brands and Private Label portfolio.
- Partner with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, and Planning & Allocation to identify market opportunities, develop differentiated product assortments, and build proprietary brands that drive sales, margin, and customer loyalty.
- Establish design standards, product aesthetics, and seasonal direction that create consistency across all Exclusive Brand and Private Label collections.
- Ensure proprietary brands deliver exceptional quality, innovation, authenticity, and commercial performance while reinforcing the Cavender's brand.
- Lead, mentor, and inspire internal design teams while influencing cross-functional partners and external creative agencies.
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable creative organization focused on excellence and continuous improvement.
- Develop future creative talent and build organizational design capabilities that support long-term growth.
- Serve as the executive steward of the Cavender's brand across product, visual merchandising, marketing, and customer experience.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce enterprise design standards, brand guidelines, and visual systems across all customer-facing experiences.
- Provide executive-level review and approval of major creative initiatives to ensure consistency, quality, and brand alignment.
- Partner closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, Planning & Allocation, Marketing, Ecommerce, and Retail Operations to translate business objectives into compelling product concepts and creative execution.
- Collaborate with merchandising leadership to ensure Exclusive Brands and Private Label collections support assortment strategies, inventory objectives, and financial goals.
- Ensure store visual merchandising, product presentation, and storytelling consistently bring the Cavender's brand to life across all locations and digital channels.
- Evaluate customer insights, competitive trends, retail performance, and emerging market opportunities to inform creative direction and product innovation.
- Ensure design decisions enhance customer engagement while supporting profitable growth and commercial outcomes.
- Balance long-term creative vision with operational execution, timelines, budgets, and business priorities.
- Present design strategy, product direction, and creative recommendations to executive leadership.
- Drive innovation while maintaining the authenticity and heritage of the Cavender's brand.
Qualifications and Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Design, Fashion Design, Merchandising, Fine Arts, Apparel, Product Development, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive retail experience, including senior-level leadership responsibility.
- Proven experience developing and executing enterprise-level product design and brand strategies.
- Demonstrated success leading Exclusive Brands and/or Private Label product development within a retail, apparel, footwear, or consumer products organization.
- Strong understanding of trend forecasting, product lifecycle management, sourcing, and vendor collaboration.
- Experience leading design across multiple channels, including product, retail environments, digital, and marketing.
- Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial performance, profitability, and brand differentiation.
- Strong understanding of product design, merchandising, retail environments, customer behavior, and product storytelling.
- Experience partnering with merchandising, sourcing, product development, and planning teams to bring products from concept to market.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence creative teams across a complex organization.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and executive leadership skills.
Preferred Skills - Passion for the Western lifestyle and a deep understanding of Cavender's customers.
- Experience supporting multi-location or national retail brands.
- Portfolio demonstrating strategic design leadership and measurable business impact.
