Designer, Soft Accessories

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready‑to‑wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles.

Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.

• Be the key interface with the licensee design teams to carry out seasonal design and brand direction
• Uphold design integrity and brand standards throughout the entire development process
• Research seasonal trends and keep up‑to‑date on market competition
• Support Design Director in creating seasonal trend inspiration presentations
• Responsible for department project management (timeline adherence, ensuring all licensees and product meet key milestones and final calendar dates)
• Manage preparation for design meetings; conduct follow‑up
• Collaborate closely with the Art Department; provide Art Department with seasonal artwork needs and oversee to final pass‑off to the licensees or factory
• Partner with licensees and merchandising teams throughout the design cycle
• Initiate cross‑collaboration with in‑house design teams (Handbags, RTW, Jewelry, Shoes, Home) to collect and share design assets and seasonal direction (designs, swatches, hardware) with licensees.
• Manage communication of internal design priorities and changes throughout season (at sketch review, proto review and market sample review) to direct team and the licensees.
• Initiate project requests and oversee to final approval (with art department, hardware, editorial, legal teams)
• Maintain seasonal boards and design libraries, by category.

• 5+ years Fashion industry experience
• Experience in Accessory and RTW experience preferred
• Experience in high fashion, including market trends, design, and luxe raw materials
• Diverse set of experience across design categories, as well as strong construction knowledge
• Ability to work in fast‑paced environment
• Strong organizational skills and deadline management
• Highly proficient skill within Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
• an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

• Courage:
  Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
• Creativity:
  Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value‑added in brainstorming settings.
• Customer Focus:
  Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first‑hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
• Dealing with Ambiguity:
  Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Drive for Results:
  Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom‑line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Interpersonal Savvy:
  Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even…