Design Director, Kids Fashion & Athletic Footwear

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $120k-$150k

About Us

American Exchange Group is an industry leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. By facilitating distribution to major retailers internationally for their globally recognized brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brandsincluding footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, home, and beautyAmerican Exchange Group raises the bar by disrupting the status quo with value and quality, while staying at the forefront of trends.

Joining American Exchange Group means being part of a dynamic and diverse team where your contributions drive real impactand where theres always room to grow. If you're looking to be part of a company that blends heritage with hustle, were excited to meet you.

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Location: Onsite 5 days a week at our NYC HQ

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly creative, strategic, and commercially driven Design Director, Kids Fashion & Athletic Footwear to lead the design and development of innovative footwear collections across kids lifestyle, athletic, casual, and licensed categories. This individual will be responsible for setting the creative vision, driving product strategy, and overseeing the end-to-end design process from concept through commercialization.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of kids consumer trends, athletic and fashion footwear, licensed product development, and global market opportunities. This role requires a balance of creative leadership, trend forecasting, technical expertise, and cross-functional collaboration within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the creative direction and seasonal design strategy across kids fashion, athletic, casual, and licensed footwear categories
Develop innovative product concepts that align with brand positioning, customer needs, and market trends
Drive trend research, consumer insights, competitive analysis, and seasonal storytelling to inform product direction
Oversee the design process from concept through commercialization, ensuring design integrity throughout development
Create and direct footwear concepts, materials, color palettes, constructions, and silhouette direction across multiple product categories
Partner closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing, and Production teams to execute seasonal assortments
Lead collaboration with licensors to ensure products align with brand standards and approval processes
Manage communication with overseas factories and development partners regarding prototypes, sample revisions, and commercialization timelines
Review prototypes and wear-test feedback to refine fit, function, comfort, and performance attributes
Drive material innovation, construction improvements, and cost engineering initiatives while maintaining design intent
Present seasonal concepts, line reviews, and product strategies to senior leadership and external partners
Build, mentor, and develop design talent while fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment
Ensure calendar adherence and manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously

Qualifications

812+ years of footwear design experience with significant experience in kids footwear, athletic footwear, or licensed product categories

Experience designing for major retailers (Walmart, Target, Kohls, off-price, department stores
Proven experience leading footwear design teams and managing multiple product categories simultaneously
Strong understanding of kids consumer behavior, fashion trends, athletic performance trends, and marketplace dynamics
Expertise in footwear construction, materials, fit, costing, and development processes
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop with strong sketching and visual storytelling skills
Experience creating tech packs, specifications, and product documentation for global development teams
Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence across departments
Exceptional organizational, communication, and presentation skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with shifting priorities

Preferred Experience

Experience working across licensed brands and approval processes
Experience partnering with overseas factories and global sourcing teams
Background within mass market, off-price, fashion footwear, or high-volume retail environments preferred
Understanding of sustainability initiatives, innovative materials, and emerging footwear technologies
Passion for kids product, storytelling, trend forecasting, and consumer-first design

What Were Looking For

A creative designer with strong taste, attention to detail, and a passion for footwear design someone excited to contribute fresh ideas while growing within a collaborative and innovative brand environment.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

Salary: The anticipated base salary is $120k-$150k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.

This position description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with this position. While this description is intended to accurately reflect the position's activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. The compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, market data, and business needs.