Design Director

Position Title: Design Director

Classification: Full‐time

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Preferably Panajachel, Guatemala, or nearby; remote work option available with periodic travel to Guatemala throughout the year.

Position Overview

Mercado Global seeks a visionary Design Director to lead product development and brand strategy for our innovative poverty alleviation model in Latin America. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role oversees the design and development of products across three key revenue streams:

• A seasonal fashion accessories collection
• Custom collaborations with major brands and retail partners
• A corporate gifting collection

The Design Director will lead a dynamic team of four—three design and product development managers and a senior designer—with a current annual sales revenue budget of $750,000 and a goal to grow sales to $2 million over the next three years.

This is a unique opportunity for a strategic, design-driven leader who is passionate about artisan craftsmanship, sustainability, and social impact. Mercado Global collaborates with renowned U.S. brands such as Free People, Liverpool Los Angeles, Levi Strauss, and Stuart Weitzman, creating high-quality products while empowering women artisans in rural Latin America to build sustainable livelihoods.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in brand strategy, concept development, and product design, with the ability to translate market insights into commercially successful, mission-driven collections. The Design Director will work cross-functionally with the Sales, Production, and Artisan Training teams to ensure products are both market-relevant and artisan-centered. Additionally, in collaboration with the VP of Strategic Partnerships, this role will engage closely with Mercado Global’s Fashion Advisory Board to help drive brand growth.

A proven track record in strong leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration is key, along with proficiency in English and Spanish.

Key Responsibilities:

As Mercado Global’s strategic product design and brand leader, the Design Director’s multi-function role will:

• Lead and manage the design team to meet sales goals, overseeing the development of seasonal collections and custom/private-label partnerships.
• Collaborate with Sales leadership to drive product sales, and refine merchandising strategy, including maintaining a market pulse and expanding the client base.
• Partner with the Artisan Training team to develop new artisan techniques and production capabilities that enhance both impact and sales.
• Coordinate with leaders of Production, Sales, Artisan Training, and with the Fashion Advisory Board to drive overall sales growth and strengthen brand positioning.
• Drive sales growth from $750,000 to $2 million over the next three years in partnership with the Sales Team
• Collaborate with Sales Team leadership to report on sales progress and brand strategy to the Sales & Marketing Committee and Board of Directors.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field
• 5–7 years of experience in design and product development, preferably in handbags or accessories
• Strong understanding of merchandising for major retailers and market positioning.
• Proven leadership experience in managing and mentoring creative teams.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Experience in market research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working in cross-cultural environments.
• Fluency in English and Spanish (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and other relevant design tools.
• Experience working with artisans, smaller brands, or rural communities in Latin America is highly preferred.
• Passion for Mercado Global’s mission with the ability to align social impact with commercial success.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@mercadoglobal.org. Please indicate “Design Director” in the subject line of your email.

About Mercado Global

Since 2004, Mercado Global has worked to empower Indigenous women to transform their lives through entrepreneurship. The organization’s three pillar model - Community Based Education, Market Access, and Asset Development - affords indigenous women the chance to gain the skills, know-how, and tools they need to become independent entrepreneurs.

Over the years the organization’s partner artisans have been able to work with an extensive list of impressive major retailers and brands like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Levi Strauss, Stuart Weitzman, Stitch Fix, and Shopbop, among others. They then can take the income they earn from these work opportunities and drive real, sustainable change across their communities.

The organization has been recognized for its important impact-making work in a variety of contexts including by being featured on the cover of Newsweek, by NPR, and on Good Morning America, while Mercado Global’s founder has been asked to speak about the organization’s work at the United Nations, the Clinton Global Foundation, The Global Summit for Women, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

At its core, the organization stands for the belief that, together, we can make the world a more ethical, sustainable, and just world - for all of us.

Learn more about Mercado Global here: https://www.mercadoglobal.org/pages/our-work