Build and evolve the long-term operating model for Design, Development & Fit incl. team structure, workflows, systems and tools.
Translate brand, product, and business strategies into an operational plan with clear seasonal calendars, milestones, and expectations.
Drive continuous improvement across the Product org by identifying bottlenecks and implementing sustainable, repeatable solutions, guided by clearly defined KPI’s.
Own the end-to-end seasonal product calendar ensuring clarity, accountability, and on-time delivery at every stage.
Ensure cross-functional alignment with Production, Merchandising, Sourcing, Creative, and brand teams.
Lead milestone readiness: concept reviews, line reviews, fit/PP timelines etc
Implement and optimize PLM workflows and design tools and ensure integration with all other departments' tech stack.
Standardize best-practice processes across concepting, design, fit & development, and through to commercialization.
Drive adoption and training to ensure teams work efficiently and consistently.
Stay at the forefront of design operations innovation by remaining deeply connected to emerging systems, tools, and best practices, while actively building and maintaining strong industry relationships.
Lead and grow the Design, Development & Fit teams
Build strong partnerships with Design, Fit/Development, Production, and cross-functional leaders.
Create an environment and culture where the team is supported, resourced, and able to do their best work.
Oversee budget for design operations, samples, tools, contractors, and external partners.
Create long-term resourcing plans based on business growth and product roadmap.
Facilitate communication across teams, ensuring the right information flows at the right time.
Partner with Brand and Merch to ensure product storytelling aligns with product milestones, production deliveries, and brand calendar.
Work closely with the Fit & Development team to ensure timelines, handoffs, and documentation (tech packs, specs, patterns, sampling) are efficient, accurate and aligned.
Lead operational excellence across fittings, PP processes, testing, and commercialization.
Build the operational foundation to support new categories, new channels, and long-term expansion.
Anticipate future needs and design systems that scale with team size, SKU count, and complexity.
A strategic & organized product leader with 12+ years of experience in retail brands, ideally in high-growth or founder-led environments.
Proven success building scalable systems and processes that elevate design and product creation.
Strong people leader who builds, coaches, and scales high-performing teams.
Expert in PLM systems, workflow management, and seasonal product processes.
Exceptional communication, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
You’ve successfully scaled a retail brand and know what it takes to go from early traction to $100M+ in revenue.
You thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves.
Naturally collaborative, you lead through influence, not ego.
Location: This role is based in Victoria, BC. We are open to applicants from Vancouver, but significant travel to Victoria will be expected.Â
Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days remote
Salary band: $130,000 – $170,000 CAD
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada.