Senior Concept & Insights Trend Manager

Role Specific Information

Job Description

About the Role

In collaboration with Director, Trend, Concepts & Insights lead the Trend team in synthesizing information to develop seasonal product visions, trend strategies, and consistent seasonal global merchandising and storytelling opportunities for complex categories and brands. 

Support the Director in advancing key company initiatives and workstreams, including Proprietary Brand Excellence, while driving global cross-category storytelling and curated customer moments.

What You’ll Do

• Lead cross-functional collaboration to identify key product concepts and insights that guide design, merchandising, and storytelling strategies

• Cross-functional partnerships are driven by strategic initiative priorities and may include Design, Merchandising, Materials, Art, Analytics, and Insights teams

• Lead and represent the team in cross-functional meetings to guide curation and connect insights, product concepts, and storytelling opportunities from concept to customer

• Translate market data, trend research, and consumer insights into compelling seasonal concept presentations that inspire and drive product creation

• Create seasonal color palettes and define color usage, capturing key color direction across global categories and ensuring alignment with seasonal storytelling and brand strategies

• Support product curation and the development of key ideas within areas of ownership, identifying opportunities to strengthen customer relevance and brand differentiation

• Maintain a deep understanding of brand aesthetic, business priorities, consumer shifts, and the competitive landscape to inform strategic direction

• Forecast and validate emerging trends using both quantitative and qualitative data. Stay on the pulse of industry trends through analysis of competitive and aspirational retail, social and cultural movements, consumer behavior, and trend intelligence resources

• Own deep research and deliver inspiring, actionable content tailored to category and business strategies.

• Partner with Design, Merchandising, Materials, Art, and Insights teams to influence brand and product strategies and act as a thought partner to drive creative consistency across the organization

• Leverage global research and internal analytics to anticipate future consumer behaviors and category opportunities

• Ensure alignment and efficiency across internal insights teams to support data-driven decision-making

• Clearly communicate key concepts, trend direction, and product stories through impactful cross-functional presentations and strategic storytelling

• Manage multiple projects and timelines to deliver cohesive, on-brand seasonal concepts and strategic initiatives

• Lead, coach, and develop a team that thrives on creativity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning

• Drive continuous improvement through the adoption of innovative processes, AI capabilities, tools, reporting methods, templates, and communication practices that strengthen team effectiveness, creative output, brand consistency, and business impact

• Act as an early adopter of emerging technologies and AI-driven tools to analyze trends, uncover insights, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making

• Perform additional tasks as assigned to meet evolving business needs

What Skills You Have

• 7+ years of relevant experience

• Strong attention to detail

• Strategic, creative and innovative thinker

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Miro, and Google Workspace

This role is based at our Corporate Office in Menomonee Falls, WI, or the New York Design Office. You’ll work onsite from Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.

Essential Functions

The requirements listed below are representative of functions you will be required to perform, however you may be required to perform additional functions. Kohl’s may revise this job description from time to time. To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, absent undue hardship.

• Ability to perform the accountabilities listed in the “What You’ll Do” Section

• Ability to maintain prompt and regular attendance as set by the company 

• Ability to work at least 8 hours per day, occasionally longer when necessary to meet business needs, 5 days per week

• Ability to comply with dress code requirements

• Ability to learn and comply with all company policies, procedures, standards and guidelines

• Ability to give direction and receive, understand and proactively respond to direction from leadership and other company personnel

• Ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively and appropriately with others

• Ability to maintain composure and work in a fast paced environment while accomplishing multiple tasks within established timeframes

• Ability to satisfactorily complete company training programs

• Perform work in accordance with the Physical/Cognitive Requirements section

Physical/Cognitive Requirements 

• Ability to use a personal computer for tasks such as communicating, preparing reports, etc.

• Ability to plan, prioritize and monitor activities across business units

• Ability to complete or oversee the completion of assigned projects in a timely manner

• Ability to comply with health and safety standards