Head Design Manager, Textiles - Pottery Barn Kids & Teen

Job Description

About the Team

The Pottery Barn Kids and Teen design team consists of highly creative, collaborative, and technical thinkers. As part of the team, you'll bring your ideas to the discussion. Our role is to create both practical and innovative products with childhood in mind.

About the Role

As the Head Design Manager for Product Development, you will lead the development of all Textile products. You will oversee the full product development process from initial sample creation through final approval for 4 seasons per year . This role leads a team of Product Development Coordinators and Technical Designers, guiding them through the complete lifecycle of each product. The role serves as the primary point of communication with overseas teams and vendor partners, managing all product-related correspondence and tracking sample status through every round of development. Additionally, the responsibilities include maintaining organized physical sample archives and ensuring timely movement of samples through each stage of review.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development for all Textile categories across four seasonal calendars, from initial concept and sample creation through final approval.
• Manage and mentor a team of Product Development Coordinators and Technical Designers, providing clear direction, workflow planning, and performance guidance.
• Oversee sample lifecycle management, ensuring all prototypes, fit samples, pre-production samples, and TOPs are reviewed, commented on, and progressed on schedule.
• Serve as the primary liaison with overseas teams, mills, factories, and vendor partners, maintaining consistent communication and ensuring accurate execution of design intent.
• Review and approve tech packs, specs, and construction details, partnering closely with Design to resolve issues quickly.
• Track development milestones, monitor timelines, and proactively address risks to ensure all styles meet deadlines for line reviews, costing, and production.
• Maintain organized physical and digital sample archives, ensuring easy retrieval and systematic storage of all development rounds.
• Ensure adherence to brand standards, size consistency, and quality requirements across all textile product categories.
• Support cross-functional meetings, including weekly development touch-bases, design sample reviews, and vendor check-ins.
• Drive process improvements in product development workflow, communication, and sample management to increase efficiency and reduce lead times.

Criteria

#LI-LG1

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available :

Benefits

Continued Learning

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $110,000 - $125,000. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

About Us

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.