Job Description

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.

Join Our Team as Sr. Manager, Technical Design at L.L.Bean

Are you a strategic leader with deep expertise in apparel fit, construction, and technical standards? L.L.Bean is seeking a Sr. Manager, Technical Design to drive innovation and excellence across our product lines. In this highly influential role, you will set the vision for technical design, lead a talented team, and collaborate with senior leaders to ensure our products meet the highest standards of quality, fit, and performance.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of our apparel offerings, build strong vendor partnerships, and lead cross-functional initiatives that impact the entire business. If you are a seasoned professional with advanced technical knowledge, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for delivering best-in-class products, we want to hear from you.

Position Purpose

The Sr. Manager, Technical Design oversees and establishes technical standards for all apparel lines to achieve the desired end result while maintaining the integrity of design, fabric, trims, construction, cost, and timeline. This role directs the specification development process and ensures overall process effectiveness and consistency across categories. The Sr. Manager ensures garments are manufactured to meet quality, fit, and construction standards.

They manage and guide the Technical Design team in producing first patterns from concepts provided by the Design organization, ensuring these patterns accurately reflect design intent and achieve the correct silhouette and fit. The Sr. Manager works closely with senior leadership in Supply Chain and Merchandising to implement strategies and collaboratively establish goals and methods.

The Sr. Manager of Technical Design operates at a highly autonomous level and has a significant impact on the business.

Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational

• Drive strategic transformation, drive/implement cross functional initiatives as well as being consistent voice for Technical Design team
• Develop relationship-building plans with sourcing teams and vendor base to evolve best-practice processes.
• Travel to domestic and offshore vendors to communicate L.L.Bean’s goals, build relationships, and establish fit and production standards.
• Conceptualize, develop, and execute a multi-year vision for the Technical Design (TD) team.
• Develop, recommend, and execute annual department plans.
• Develop and manage the department budget.
• Build cross-functional partnerships to increase TD’s visibility.
• Lead and participate in corporate projects to implement change.
• Leverage technical expertise across all product areas.

Technical Oversight

• Establish and communicate technical standards accurately and effectively.
• Monitor and ensure the effectiveness of the specification development process.
• Ensure integrity of data within the Corporate Specification System.
• Oversee fit return rate issues with team leaders.
• Monitor prototype sample fit, attend fit sessions, and ensure pattern corrections.
• Prioritize department work based on corporate timelines to meet production deadlines.
• Mentor and provide vision for pattern, fit, and commercialization issues; recommend solutions.
• Guide development of company block patterns.

Leadership

• Create an effective team environment by providing leadership and technical expertise.
• Mentor and develop department career pathing.
• Engage in proactive talent development and succession planning.
• Establish department and individual performance objectives; appraise, coach, and develop employees.
• Review and update job descriptions, department structure, and staffing levels as needed.
• Create a high-performance culture and lead teams through uncertainty.
• Develop strategies and oversee tactical work while balancing short-term needs and long-term results.
• Demonstrate strong leadership presence by translating vision into actionable goals.
• Consult across multiple levels, lead cross-functional communication, and drive decision-making.
• Invite diverse perspectives for problem-solving.
• Maintain a positive, productive, and safe work environment.

Health and Safety Requirement

Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.

Skills and Qualifications

• BA/BS required
• 10+ years relevant experience required
• Expertise and in-depth knowledge of fit and construction across all product areas.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in garment construction, terminology, and fit.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in pattern making and grading.
• Advanced knowledge of domestic and overseas manufacturing processes.
• Strategic thinker with a long-term vision.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Expert proficiency in Product Development Systems (CAD, PDM, and Gerber).
• Strong management experience, with a proven ability to lead teams and deliver results collaboratively.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Extensive experience working in multi-cultural environments.
• Expertise in analyzing returns data and integrating solutions into standards.
• Ability to manage a department of 10–15 team members.
• Exceptional ability to mentor, counsel, and coach direct reports.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment across cross-functional teams.

If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.