Manager, Technical Design – Walmart Kids Apparel

Description

The Technical Design Manager – Walmart Kids Apparel is responsible for leading the Technical Design team across multiple children's apparel categories, ensuring exceptional fit, quality, consistency, and execution from concept through production. This role oversees the technical development process, manages and mentors a team of Technical Designers, and serves as the primary technical partner to Design, Product Development, Production, and overseas factories.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with extensive Walmart private label experience who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. This individual will drive technical excellence, establish best practices, improve efficiencies, and ensure all products meet Golden Touch's quality standards while supporting Walmart's product requirements and critical calendar milestones.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Technical Designers supporting multiple Walmart Kids apparel categories.
• Allocate workload, prioritize seasonal deliverables, and ensure deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Establish technical design standards, best practices, and process improvements across the department.
• Coach team members through fit challenges, construction issues, and technical problem-solving.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development.
• Foster collaboration and accountability within the Technical Design team and across cross-functional partners.

Technical Design

• Oversee the creation and approval of garment specifications for costing, sampling, and production.
• Review and approve vendor-ready tech packs, including construction details, grading, measurement specifications, sketches, and Bill of Materials.
• Lead fit strategy and ensure consistency across all Walmart Kids programs.
• Conduct and oversee fit sessions while providing clear, detailed, and actionable fit comments.
• Ensure garments meet Walmart quality standards, customer expectations, and children's fit requirements.
• Partner with factories to resolve technical issues throughout development and production.
• Maintain fit consistency, construction integrity, and product quality across multiple seasons and classifications.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, Production, and Quality teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Partner with Design to preserve design intent while ensuring manufacturability and cost efficiency.
• Support overseas vendors by providing timely technical direction and troubleshooting construction challenges.
• Participate in seasonal milestone meetings, daily handoffs, and cross-functional development meetings.
• Communicate technical priorities and risks to leadership while proactively identifying solutions.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve speed-to-market.
• Develop standardized fit blocks, grading practices, and construction guidelines.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency and product consistency.
• Ensure adherence to Walmart compliance requirements and seasonal calendar milestones.

Requirements

•  Bachelor's degree in Fashion Technical Design, Fashion Design, Apparel Product Development, or a related field
• 5+ years of Technical Design experience within children's apparel
• 2+ years of leadership or management experience supervising Technical Designers
• Extensive experience supporting Walmart private label programs is required
• Strong knowledge of children's garment construction, grading, patternmaking, fit, fabrics, and manufacturing
• Proven experience managing multiple product categories in a high-volume production environment
• Advanced proficiency with PLM systems, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, and related Microsoft Office applications
• Experience communicating technical requirements with overseas factories
• Excellent organizational, project management, and prioritization skills
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to lead through change while balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Hybrid Work Schedule

4 days a week in the office, Fridays' work from home

New York Pay Rate $85,000 - $135,000
We strive to hire and nurture amazing talent. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience, specialized skills, and internal alignment.

Company Overview
Golden Touch is a family owned and operated wholesale apparel manufacturer with a mission to deliver trend focused products for nearly 50 years. We produce private label brands for large mass market retailers across the globe specializing in children’s, junior, missy and women’s apparel.

Diversity Vision Statement
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our associates, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which we live and conduct business. We are an equal employment opportunity for minorities, females, protected veterans, and the disabled.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and treating our associates and applicants without discrimination based on their race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.