Design Director - Women's Footwear

Our client, a wholesale girl's apparel brand, is seeking a Design Director - Women's Footwear to join their team in NYC!

Responsibilities:

• Utilize your skills and creativity to develop innovative shoe designs based on style plans, sales needs, and emerging trends.
• Translate trend insights into finished footwear products within defined timelines and cost parameters.
• Collaborate closely with technical design, production, merchandising and sales teams to craft style plans and design collections that resonate with market trends.
• Conduct competitive and inspirational research specific to the footwear industry, identifying relevant trends and providing perspective on market dynamics.
• Lead the development of seasonal design concepts, considering assortment strategies and cost structures.
• Work in partnership with Merchandising and sales teams to craft style plans and design footwear collections that resonate with market trends.
• Ensure timely execution of product development calendars and maintain brand consistency across shoe categories.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts, addressing quality and technical issues
• Manage the creation and maintenance of shoe line sheets, collaborating with the product development team on material approvals and trim selections.
• Oversee the handoff process internally, including approving material samples, prints, and graphics for shoe designs.
• Foster a positive team environment, attracting and developing talent within the shoe design team.
• Monitor individual and team performance, providing feedback and support for growth.

Requirements:‍

• Superior organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative mindset.
• Strong multitasking capabilities, attention to detail, and creative flair in shoe design.
• Proficient in sketching shoe designs and technical aspects of footwear development.
• Extensive experience in shoe design (minimum 8 years) with a proven track record of successful product launches.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design or related field, with a focus on footwear design.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe products, CAD software, and Mac computers, specifically tailored to footwear design needs.

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Please submit your resume for consideration.