Who We Are: Lizzie Fortunato is a New York City-based accessories brand founded by twin sisters, Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato. Lizzie Fortunato sources materials and inspiration from around the globe to create collections that are informed by travel, fine art, and the craftwork of the places they visit.

Who You Are: As a Designer on the LF team, you are an expert in costume jewelry & accessories with a refined eye. You possess a knowledge of manufacturing techniques and materials, are passionate about design, have a sharp sense of proportion, and an elevated/unique point of view to push our design language. In this role, you will be responsible for bringing fresh ideas and innovative solutions to varied projects, managing all aspects of your design process from start to finish. You are passionate about the Lizzie Fortunato brand and the impact of small creative companies on the fashion and retail landscape. You are seeking a long-term position with growth opportunities.

Where You Fit In: You will be responsible for managing and coaching an Assistant Designer. You will be collaborating daily with the Design Director, Creative Director, and cross functional teams including E-COM, Wholesale and Production to co-create quality products for consumers.

What You Will Do:

Design & Collection Development

Collaborate with the Design Director & Creative Director on concept and design development to create bold, unique, and commercial designs that meet brand objectives and sales goals.
Manage and execute assigned projects from concept sketch to final technical drawings, meeting all deliverables on time.
Demonstrate design initiative: Translate design ideas through sketches & renderings into inspired products that reflect the LFJ aesthetic
Create detailed technical specs (in Adobe Creative Suite; primarily Photoshop and InDesign) that effectively show scale, design intent, and construction information for both jewelry and leather goods (belts and occasionally handbags).
Communicate with local and overseas vendors to confirm design details are understood, price targets are met, and samples are delivered correctly and according to set timelines.
Present designs (both digital renderings and physical mock-ups) during design & product meetings and follow through on changes/ revisions.
Manage and adhere to seasonal design calendar to meet sample, shoot, and market deadlines.
Conduct research on trends, materials and techniques & be able to translate this research into actualized concepts & products.
Source raw and unique materials such as beads, stones, chains, carvings, and vintage components to achieve the mixed-medium, bold, and sophisticated Lizzie Fortunato aesthetic.
Hand-make proto samples for concept review and final samples for look book photoshoots, hi-res photography, and market.
Build a strong digital library that conveys inspiring concepts, visuals, and references.
Contribute to seasonal look book photoshoot direction regarding styling, location, casting, and photographer as well as day-of-shoot management of looks.

Product Development

Create detailed assembly specs to pass off to production.
Approve / reject samples for production and provide detailed sample / QC comments for unapproved samples.
Counter source materials & troubleshoot issues with the production team to seamlessly preserve the look of first samples when entering production.

Management

Manage and delegate tasks to an Assistant Designer and provide regular feedback for professional development.
Identify areas for improvement in the design process and/or systems, propose ideas for improvement, and implement solutions.
Work with cross-functional teams (Production, Brand, E-commerce, and Wholesale) setting agendas and leading meetings for clear and efficient communication.

What You Will Bring:

Minimum of 3 years of experience in jewelry design.
Strong project management skills.
People management skills a plus.
Strong collaboration and influence skills; ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders across organizational levels.
Strong communication & collaboration skills.
Candidate should be eager, self-starting, confident, and positive with a growth mindset.
Strong operational mindset: extreme attention to detail and ability to work efficiently and prioritize.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
Passion for Lizzie Fortunato brand and small / start-up setting where self-motivation is critical.
Hard work and hustle with a "no task is too small" attitude.

Benefits:

Competitive Salary
Year-end bonus opportunity
Comprehensive benefits package including Health Insurance, ST & LT disability, PTO programs.
401k program
Employee allowance
Continuing Education Allowance
Flexible schedule with the potential to WFH 1-2 days / week