Sales Director

About Northstar Northstar is a global footwear design and sourcing agency with offices across the U.S., UK,India, China, and Mexico. We partner with leading international brands to design, develop, anddeliver innovative footwear products with precision and speed. Our mission is to combine designintelligence, operational control, and global reach to drive growth for our customers. Northstar offers a one-stop shop — from sales and design to fulfillment, material and technologyresearch, in-house testing, prototyping, collaborative design, CAD/blueprints, and materialdevelopment. We approach each customer deliberately and comprehensively, utilizing our vastpersonnel and experience to find efficient, creative solutions. Role Overview Northstar is seeking a dynamic, experienced Senior Director of Sales to join our El Segundooffice and serve as a key leader within Northstar USA. Reporting directly to Candice Watts,President of Northstar USA, this individual will assume ownership of key account relationships,drive sales and product direction, and lead the day-to-day commercial execution of the division. The ideal candidate is a seasoned footwear professional who started their career in design andhas evolved through product line management, merchandising, and account leadership. Theybring a combination of creative vision and commercial acumen — equally comfortable steeringproduct strategy and managing to revenue and margin targets. This person thrives in a fast paced, client-facing environment and has the relationship instincts and industry knowledge tobecome a trusted partner to our most important customers. Key Responsibilities Account & Customer Relationship Management Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned accounts, building deep, trust-basedrelationships with key customer stakeholders. Represent Northstar in all client-facing touchpoints — meetings, presentations, and in person engagements at customer offices. Plan and host showroom visits, shopping trips, and strategic reviews to strengthenpartnerships and demonstrate Northstar's value. Act as a proactive solutions partner to customers, anticipating needs and aligningNorthstar's capabilities to drive account growth. Sales Strategy & Commercial Execution Own and manage seasonal sales plans for assigned accounts, with full accountability forachieving revenue and margin targets. Collaborate with Candice and Northstar leadership to develop divisional sales strategiesand identify growth opportunities. Analyze account performance, track KPIs, and deliver regular reporting and forecastingto leadership. Identify new business opportunities within existing accounts and support efforts toexpand Northstar's customer base. Product Direction & Merchandising Strategy Lead seasonal product strategy for assigned accounts — from trend research throughfinal line review and commercial handoff. Guide design and development teams in creating collections that align with customerbrand DNA, price architecture, and commercial objectives. Drive compelling merchandising narratives and product storytelling that differentiateNorthstar's offering in the market. Translate customer feedback, market trends, and competitive intelligence into actionableproduct direction. Shop global markets and attend trade shows and fashion weeks to ensure Northstar'sproduct output is trend-right and market-relevant. Product Development Oversight Manage the end-to-end product development process for assigned accounts, from initialconcept through commercialization. Maintain development calendars in partnership with PD and technical teams, ensuringall milestones and sample deadlines are met. Troubleshoot development issues proactively, keeping timelines on track and customersinformed. Communicate effectively with Northstar's overseas teams in Asia, ensuring alignment onmaterials, construction, costing, and execution. Team Leadership & Development Manage a team of designers (3–5 direct reports), setting clear expectations andfostering a high-performance, collaborative culture. Coach team members on design, PLM, development best practices, and customer facing skills. Optimize team workflows and workloads across the season to ensure consistentexecution and results. Qualifications Required 7–10 years of experience in the footwear industry, with a background spanning design,product line management, merchandising, and/or account management. Proven track record in a client-facing, sales-oriented role — with experience setting andmanaging to revenue and margin goals. Strong design foundation: ability to direct product vision, work with CAD and sketch, andcredibly lead design teams. Deep understanding of footwear development processes, materials, construction, andthe full development calendar. Experience working for a footwear supplier or sourcing agency (agency/supplier-sideexperience strongly preferred). Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-seasonal product lines across multipleaccounts simultaneously. Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills — comfortablewith senior-level customer interaction. Willingness to travel internationally to Asia for factory sourcing trips and in-regioncustomer visits. Commitment to working in our El Segundo office 4-5 days per week. Preferred Experience working for a footwear brand or retailer as a merchandiser, buyer, or productdirector. Familiarity with sourcing from China, Vietnam, India, or Southeast Asia, with directfactory or overseas partner relationships. Experience managing and mentoring creative teams. Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator, PLM systems, Google Workspace, and MS OfficeSuite. Ideal Profile You started your career drawing and designing shoes. Over time, you grew into managingproduct lines, driving seasonal strategies, and owning customer relationships. You've sat on thesupplier side of the table and understand what it takes to deliver for a brand - not just pitch toone. You have the creative credibility to earn the respect of designers, the commercial instinctsto hit a number, and the relationship skills to make customers feel like you're their mostimportant partner. You love the product, love the business, and are ready to own it. What We Offer Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus Health, dental, vision, and life insurance 401(k) International travel opportunities — Asia sourcing trips, customer visits, and trade shows • Opportunity to lead and shape a high-growth division within a global footwear agency • Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture with direct access to senior leadership #J-18808-Ljbffr