Fashion Design Director (Korean)

ACG_3972_JOB Our client, a leading textile corporation, is looking for a qualified candidate to join their firm. JOB DESCRIPTION 1. ODM Strategy & Business Development Lead the end-to-end ODM development strategy, from market research and product development through to commercialization, including the creation of seasonal ODM collections and innovative apparel concepts aligned with market trends, customer insights, and the company’s capabilities. Establish the strategic direction for ODM products and design, defining target product categories, customer segments, seasonal development strategies, innovation priorities, and plans for enhancing organizational capabilities. Evaluate global fashion trends, consumer preferences, competitor offerings, and customer portfolios to identify and recommend new product development initiatives and business growth opportunities. Collaborate with senior management and Sales teams to identify strategic customers, priority markets, and potential business opportunities where the company’s ODM expertise can strengthen its competitive positioning and drive revenue growth. Formulate distinctive product and collection strategies for key customers, ensuring alignment with their brand positioning, target audiences, pricing structures, commercial goals, and long-term business strategies. Oversee the development of strategic ODM concepts and seasonal collections, ensuring an effective balance between design innovation, commercial viability, target costs, manufacturing feasibility, and speed to market. 2. ODM Capability Development & Operational Excellence Develop and continuously strengthen the company’s comprehensive ODM capabilities, encompassing trend forecasting and intelligence, design, product development, fabric and material innovation, 3D and digital product development, AI-assisted design, and commercialization. Design and implement an effective ODM operating framework and product development processes that promote seamless coordination across Design, Sales, Merchandising, R&D, Sourcing, Production, and other relevant departments. Direct strategic product presentations, seasonal collection reviews, and innovation workshops for key international customers, reinforcing the company’s position as a proactive product development and solutions partner rather than merely a manufacturing supplier. Establish and maintain strategic collaborations with international trend forecasting agencies, designers, material suppliers, technology providers, and other external partners to accelerate innovation and enhance product differentiation. Drive ongoing improvements across critical ODM performance metrics, including product development lead times, sample effectiveness, customer adoption, commercialization rates, design productivity, and overall business contribution. Define and implement clear KPIs, governance frameworks, and performance benchmarks for the ODM Design function, regularly monitoring and assessing performance against established strategic goals. 3. Organizational Leadership & Talent Development Develop the organizational structure and talent management strategy necessary to support the company’s long-term ODM expansion, covering workforce planning, recruitment, capability enhancement, succession planning, and leadership development. Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to the ODM Design organization, fostering a high-performing team characterized by commercial awareness, innovation, customer focus, and strong execution capabilities. 4. Strategic Advisory & Stakeholder Management Provide senior leadership with strategic insights and recommendations regarding emerging fashion trends, customer opportunities, product portfolio development, design investments, technological advancements, and future ODM capability requirements. Act as the ODM function’s representative in strategic customer engagements and senior management discussions, taking full responsibility for strengthening the long-term growth, development, and competitive positioning of the company’s ODM business. Requirements Education & Professional Experience Bachelor’s degree or above in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile and Garment Technology, Industrial Design, Fashion Management, or a closely related field. A minimum of 10 years of experience in fashion design, apparel product development, ODM, product creation, or related disciplines within the international apparel industry. At least 3–5 years of experience in a senior leadership role, such as Head of Design, Design Director, Creative Director, Product Development Director, ODM Director, or an equivalent position. Demonstrated success in formulating and implementing ODM, design, or product development strategies within international apparel organizations. Industry Expertise & Technical Competencies Comprehensive understanding of the global apparel value chain, including fashion design, product development, merchandising, sourcing, costing, manufacturing operations, and commercialization. In-depth knowledge of international fashion trends, consumer behavior and insights, customer segmentation, product positioning, and commercially driven apparel development. Proven ability to convert market intelligence and customer insights into sustainable product strategies, seasonal design directions, and commercially successful collections. Extensive experience engaging directly with international fashion brands, retailers, or global customers, including delivering strategic product presentations and participating in business discussions. Strong commercial judgment with the ability to effectively balance creative innovation, customer value, target pricing, profit margins, manufacturing capabilities, and commercial opportunities. Prior experience establishing, transforming, or expanding ODM, design, or product development capabilities and operational processes is highly desirable. Solid technical knowledge of garment construction, textiles, trims, washing and finishing techniques, garment fit, product engineering, and apparel production processes. Knowledge of digital product development, CLO 3D, AI-powered design solutions, and emerging technologies in the fashion industry would be an advantage. Leadership & Management Capabilities Demonstrated leadership experience in establishing, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary, high-performing design and product development teams. Excellent strategic thinking, commercial awareness, analytical abilities, and sound decision-making capabilities. Outstanding communication, stakeholder influencing, negotiation, and executive-level presentation skills. Ability to collaborate effectively across different business functions, cultural backgrounds, and international operating environments. Language Proficiency & Personal Attributes Fluency in English, with strong communication skills essential for engaging international customers and facilitating cross-border collaboration. Proficiency in additional languages is considered an advantage. An innovative, entrepreneurial, and customer-focused professional with a results-oriented mindset, strong personal accountability, and a high degree of ownership. Benefits PVI private health insurance provided by the company. One round-trip flight ticket per year. Company-provided transportation to and from work. 12 days of annual leave. Social insurance and health insurance in accordance with Vietnamese labor laws. Public holidays and sick leave in accordance with company policies and Vietnamese labor laws. Not Provided Relocation expenses for overseas candidates moving to Vietnam are not covered by the company. No housing allowance provided. Contact: Phuong Anh Nguyen Due to the immense number of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.