Design Manager - Footwear

We are looking for a Design Manager to join our footwear team who has a passion for footwear. This is a great opportunity for those looking to be a part of an energetic, creative, and collaborative group. Our designers have been shaping our department for the better season after season.

Footwear Design Manager Role and Responsibilities:

• Design ownership over brands, assigned based on aesthetic and creative strengths, responsible for creating digital CADs for full seasonal collections.
• Create and then present tech packages with information necessary in order to communicate design specific detail necessary to hand off to the design team and factories
• Manage and mentor designers, providing clear direction, feedback, and support to ensure high-quality creative output and professional development.
• Own and maintain the design team’s calendar, coordinating projects, deadlines, reviews, and priorities across teams to ensure resources are appropriately allocated and work is delivered on schedule.
• Balance team capacity and business priorities, proactively identifying scheduling conflicts, resource gaps, and competing deadlines.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to prioritize design requests and establish realistic timelines and expectations.
• Manage and oversee PLM system
• Provide design direction as well as design alongside a team of designers, prepare sample requests, review, critique, test, and approve submitted samples while adhering to product, color, and material standards
• Strong eye for trend, conducting valuable market research, bringing ideas to weekly meeting and inspiring other members of design team
• Works closely with design director with creative freedom throughout process
• Communicate effectively with overseas team to resolve any technical or timing issues
• Work cross-functionally and professionally with product development team, communicating clearly to ensure the design is produced how you envisioned
• Primarily design in Illustrator with minimal retouching in Photoshop
• Bring new ideas and concepts to table regularly
• Adjust product styling or functionality as needed after receiving feedback from inhouse product testing
• Assist in creating pitches for current and new licenses
• Help to create pitches for new licenses
• Present and participate in meetings with licensors and buyers
• Perform comp shopping and store shopping activities to monitor the competitive landscape and identify opportunities for product differentiation and innovation.
• Use all available resources to stay updated on forward trends (WGSN, RVCF, etc.)
• Maintain seasonal development calendar

Footwear Design Manager Qualifications:

• 5+ years’ experience in footwear.
• Managing staff of designers
• Experience in working for a wholesale company managing multiple licenses a plus
• Creative edge, bringing new ideas and trends to the table
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Positive team player
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment
• Proficient Illustrator & working knowledge of Photoshop
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong knowledge of customers and buyers’ expectations
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management to support the department’s business needs
• Understand and follow Gina’s employee policies and procedures

Footwear Design Manager Benefits and Perks:

• Hybrid work schedule & early Fridays
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• 401K & Profit sharing
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Professional development
• Team building and Company events

NY Pay Transparency: The pay range for this position is ($95-105k) annually based on skills and experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Gina Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

Recruitment Agencies: Gina Group does not accept unsolicited agency resumes and will not be held responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.