Head of Design / Head of Apparel Design
# Head of Design / Head of Apparel Design **Madison(China)Industrial Co.,Limited** · Manila · `On-site` 🕒 **Статус:** *Опубликовано: 7 дней назад* · *Источник: Indeed* --- ### About the Role Head of Apparel Design Location: Manila, Philippines (On-site) Employment Type: Full-time About MCI Madison China Industrial Co., Ltd. (MCI) is a full-service apparel manufacturer specializing in premium OEM/ODM garment development for international fashion brands. We provide end-to-end solutions including fashion design, trend research, fabric sourcing, product development, sampling, manufacturing, quality control, and global logistics. As we continue to expand our international business, we are looking for an experienced and visionary Head of Apparel Design to lead our Design Department, build a high-performing creative team, and drive innovative product development for global fashion brands. Position Summary The Head of Apparel Design will be responsible for leading the overall design strategy, managing the design team, establishing department workflows and KPI systems, and ensuring all design projects are delivered on time with exceptional quality. This position requires both strong creative vision and excellent leadership skills, working closely with Sales, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production teams to deliver commercially successful collections for international customers. Key ResponsibilitiesDesign Leadership - Lead, mentor, and develop the apparel design team. - Establish the creative direction and seasonal design strategy. - Build a high-performance design culture that encourages creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement. - Allocate design resources effectively across multiple projects and customers. - Review and approve all major design concepts before customer presentation. Product Development - Lead the development of seasonal collections, capsules, and customer-exclusive programs. - Translate customer briefs into commercially successful apparel collections. - Develop mood boards, trend presentations, color stories, fabric directions, and collection concepts. - Guide garment styling, silhouette development, trims, graphics, prints, embroidery, washing, and finishing details. - Ensure all products align with customer brand positioning and target markets. Trend Research & Innovation - Research global fashion trends, colors, fabrics, trims, graphics, and consumer behavior. - Monitor competitor brands and emerging market opportunities. - Present seasonal trend forecasts and product directions. - Introduce innovative materials, techniques, and product concepts. - Explore and implement AI-assisted design tools and digital workflows to improve creativity and efficiency. Technical Design & Sample Development - Review Tech Packs, artwork, construction details, and specifications. - Ensure all designs are production feasible while maintaining creativity. - Collaborate with Pattern Makers, Sample Room, Merchandising, and Production teams. - Monitor sample development from concept through final approval. - Resolve technical design challenges during product development. Customer Collaboration - Participate in customer meetings and design presentations. - Understand each customer's brand DNA and product positioning. - Develop customized design proposals based on customer requirements. - Support the Sales and Business Development teams in acquiring new customers through innovative product presentations. Design Management & KPI - Establish, implement, and continuously improve the Design Department's SOPs, workflows, and KPI evaluation system. - Set clear performance goals and monitor designers' productivity, quality, accuracy, and on-time delivery. - Manage the daily workload, project priorities, and resource allocation across the design team. - Ensure all design requests are completed within company KPI timelines while maintaining high-quality standards. - Conduct weekly design reviews and regular performance evaluations. - Coach and mentor designers to improve both technical and creative capabilities. - Develop onboarding and continuous training programs for new and existing designers. - Standardize design documentation, file management, and development processes. - Identify workflow bottlenecks and implement continuous improvement initiatives. - Introduce AI tools and automation where appropriate to improve department efficiency. - Build a scalable design organization capable of supporting multiple international fashion brands simultaneously. Cross-Functional Collaboration - Work closely with Sales, Merchandising, Product Development, Production, and Quality Assurance teams. - Support costing discussions by considering commercial feasibility during design. - Assist Production in resolving design-related manufacturing issues. - Ensure smooth communication throughout the product development process. Qualifications - Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or a related discipline. - Minimum 8 years of professional experience in apparel design. - Minimum 5 years of experience leading a fashion design team. - Strong experience in OEM/ODM apparel development. - Extensive knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, trims, printing, embroidery, washing, and manufacturing processes. - Excellent understanding of international fashion trends and commercial product development. - Strong leadership, coaching, and team management skills. - Excellent project management and organizational abilities. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. - Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Technical Skills - Adobe Illustrator - Adobe Photoshop - CorelDRAW (preferred) - Microsoft Office - Tech Pack development - PLM systems (preferred) - AI-assisted design tools such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, or equivalent (preferred) Preferred Experience Experience in one or more of the following categories: - Womenswear - Menswear - Contemporary Fashion - Premium Casual Wear - Streetwear - Denim - Activewear - Outerwear Experience working with international fashion brands is highly preferred. What We Offer - Competitive salary package - Performance-based bonus - Career advancement opportunities - Professional training and development - Company events - Christmas gifts - Permanent employment opportunity - A collaborative, innovative, and fast-growing international work environment - Opportunity to work with leading global fashion brands Why Join MCI? At MCI, we don't simply create garments—we help build brands. You'll lead a talented design team, collaborate with international customers, and play a key role in shaping products that reach global markets. If you're passionate about innovation, leadership, and creating commercially successful fashion collections, we'd love to hear from you. Job Type: Full-time Pay: Php30,000.00 - Php45,000.00 per month Benefits: - Company Christmas gift - Company events - Promotion to permanent employee Application Question(s): - Our Head of Design's performance bonus is highly tied to the 'Linesheet Selection Rate' and 'Bulk Order Conversion Rate.' In your past experience (e.g., at major brands or exporters), how did you conduct trend forecasting (Trend Boards) and lead your design team to select fabrics, trims, and silhouettes that not only met the aesthetic trend but also achieved high commercial hit rates and minimized return/rejection rates from clients? Please share a brief, real-world example. - In our department, you will be held accountable for the design quality gate. If a designer under your supervision submits a Tech Pack to the sample room or client with missing construction details or incorrect measurement charts, causing a sample remake or fabric waste, how will you handle this internally? More importantly, what strict daily review workflow (e.g., sample tracking, pre-dispatch blind audits) will you establish as Head of Design to ensure 100% compliance before files are sent out? - Question: Our company operates on a 6-day workweek (Monday to Saturday) to maintain tight synchronization with our garment production facilities and overseas clients. What is your stance on this schedule? - In the foreign trade apparel industry, we occasionally face urgent, high-priority client requests (e.g., sudden style revisions or quick-turn sample approvals) that may require short-notice overtime to meet tight deadlines. How do you usually handle these situations? - Our department utilizes a highly quantitative, output-and-quality-based performance system (e.g., tracking individual Tech Pack output, turnaround time, error rates, and linesheet conversion rate). As a design leader (or senior designer), how do you view this strict performance-driven culture? Do you believe design quality can be fairly measured by metrics, and how would you foster a team environment that embraces, rather than resists, these quantitative KPIs? - Working a 6-day schedule in a fast-paced export environment means team fatigue can occasionally set in, especially when urgent client revisions require short-notice overtime. As Head of Design, how do you plan to manage team morale, prevent burnout, and optimize daily workflows so that your team can consistently deliver 104+ Tech Packs per month without compromising on accuracy or mental well-being? - What is the maximum size of the design/product development team you have directly managed in your previous roles? Work Location: In person
Наблюдалась 2026-10-20, впервые 2026-10-12, источник — Indeed.