Design Director

Location: Victoria, BC
Work Model: Hybrid – 3 days in office, 2 days remote
Salary Range: $140,000-$195,000 CAD
Reports to: Co-founder / Chief Innovation Officer

The Role

The Design Director plays a critical leadership role in bringing the Left On Friday product vision to life across swim, apparel, and future categories. Reporting to the Co-founder / Chief Innovation Officer, the Design Director translates the brand’s creative and strategic direction into exceptional product execution season after season.

This leader oversees the design organization, ensuring strong execution, elevated product standards, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment from concept through commercialization. The ideal candidate combines strong creative instincts with deep technical product knowledge, team leadership experience, and the ability to execute at a high level within a fast-paced growth environment.

Looking Ahead

The Design Director has their eye on what’s next for LOF, bringing a sharp, informed point of view on where design, culture, and the female athlete are heading and translating it into a product that strengthens our position in the marketplace.

Design Futures & Trend

• Own LOF's trend and future intelligence, tracking shifts in design, colour, materials, culture, sport, and consumer behaviour 18–36 months out, and distilling them into clear, actionable direction for the team.

• Build and lead the pre-seasonal trend and concept process: research, shopping trips, forecasting inputs, and concept boards that feed directly into line planning and creative direction.

• Bring a distinct, well-researched point of view to seasonal direction-setting with the Co-founder / CIO, knowing when to lead a trend, when to interpret it through LOF's lens, and when to ignore it.

• Partner with R&D and Raw Materials to identify emerging fabrics, finishes, and construction techniques early, connecting material innovation to design opportunity.

• Keep a close read on the female athlete and the swim, beach, and active landscape: competitors, adjacent categories, athletes, and communities. Spot white space for new categories and product innovation.

• Build a culture of curiosity and inspiration across the design team so trend awareness becomes a shared capability, not a single person's job.

Creative Execution & Product Leadership

• Contribute to seasonal creative direction that translates into commercially successful product assortments across swim and apparel.

• Execute against established brand direction across silhouette, fit, fabrication, colour, trim, and product storytelling.

• Ensure consistency and excellence across all product categories while maintaining the integrity of the brand aesthetic.

• Partner closely with Raw Materials, Merchandising, Product Engineering, and Production teams to bring concepts to life at the highest standard.

• Drive strong execution from initial concept through fit, development, commercialization, and production handoff.

• Support category expansion and innovation opportunities while maintaining alignment with the overall brand vision.

Design Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the design team across all product categories.

• Build strong team structure, accountability, and clarity across timelines, deliverables, and priorities.

• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and high-performance team culture.

• Establish scalable design processes and workflows that support growth and operational efficiency.

• Ensure strong communication and alignment across all cross-functional stakeholders.

Product Excellence & Innovation

• Champion elevated fit, functionality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail across all products.

• Partner with Product Engineering and Sourcing to ensure design intent is maintained throughout execution.

• Support the successful integration and launch of innovation initiatives in materials, construction, and product functionality.

• Identify opportunities to improve product quality, consistency, and executional efficiency.

• Maintain awareness of industry trends, consumer insights, and the competitive landscape.

Business & Operational Partnership

• Partner with Merchandising to support category growth, assortment needs, and business objectives.

• Balance creative execution with operational realities, including costing, margin, timelines, and manufacturing capabilities.

• Contribute to seasonal calendar management, product readiness, and GTM execution.

• Support the ongoing growth and scaling of the product organization.

Who You Are

• 12+ years of experience in apparel design, with leadership experience within premium or performance-driven brands.

• Strong background in swim, activewear, technical apparel, or lifestyle apparel.

• Proven experience leading design teams and executing products at a high level from concept through commercialization.

• Deep understanding of fit, fabrics, garment construction, and product lifecycle management.

• Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with evolving priorities.

• Passionate about creating beautiful, functional products with exceptional attention to detail.

Interested?
Submit your application here. Applications close October 31, 2026.