Design Manager (Shoes/Footwear)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the end-to-end design direction for women’s footwear collections, aligning with brand vision and commercial objectives
• Identify and interpret emerging fashion, cultural and consumer trends to inform seasonal design strategies
• Translate insights into innovative, commercially viable footwear concepts across multiple categories
• Oversee the design development process from initial ideation to final product delivery, ensuring quality and consistency
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to bring concepts to life
• Guide and mentor junior designers, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and creative team environment
• Drive design reviews, fittings and prototype evaluations, ensuring continuous refinement and excellence in product execution
• Ensure alignment with market demands, consumer expectations and brand positioning across all design outputs
• Establish clear timelines, priorities and deliverables to ensure on-time execution of all design projects
• Champion innovation in materials, construction and design techniques to enhance product differentiation
• Maintain strong communication across global teams to ensure seamless project progression

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, or a related discipline
• More than 5 years of experience in women’s footwear design, with experience in a leadership or managerial capacity
• Strong, established portfolio showcasing creative direction, product development and commercial success across multiple footwear categories
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Strong ability in sketching, concept development and delivering compelling visual presentations
• Deep understanding of materials including leather, construction techniques, silhouettes and color storytelling
• Strong design sensibility with a modern, trend-aware and customer-centric perspective
• Proven ability to balance creative vision with business and commercial objectives
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and team development skills
• Highly adaptable, open to feedback and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Passion for design, functionality and consumer experience
• Positive, energetic and collaborative mindset

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