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Director Footwear Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · Hybrid

REPORTING STRUCTURE This role partners closely with the Design Director and works across local and global Design teams. The position has significant cross-functional exposure to Footwear Development ...

Boot Barn

Women's Footwear Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S DESIGN STATUS: EXEMPT Summary Boot Barn is where community comes first. We ... Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to ensure designs meet cost targets (IMU) and ...

Adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

REPORTING STRUCTURE This role partners closely with the Design Director and works across local and global Design teams. The position has significant cross-functional exposure to Footwear Development ...

adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · Hybrid

REPORTING STRUCTURE This role partners closely with the Design Director and works across local and global Design teams. The position has significant cross-functional exposure to Footwear Development ...

Adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

REPORTING STRUCTURE This role partners closely with the Design Director and works across local and global Design teams. The position has significant cross-functional exposure to Footwear Development ...

Boot Barn

Women's Footwear Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S DESIGN STATUS: EXEMPT Summary Boot Barn is where community comes first. We ... Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to ensure designs meet cost targets (IMU) and ...

Aquent

SENIOR FOOTWEAR PRODUCT DEVELOPER

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$52 - $57/hr

What You'll Bring Must-Have Qualifications * 5+ years of direct, hands-on experience in footwear product development. * Proven project management skills, including a track record of creating ...

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Director Footwear Development information

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$21K

$93.3K

$180K

How much do director footwear development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for director footwear development in the United States is $93,350.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,500.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of footwear development do?

A Director of Footwear Development oversees the entire process of creating new footwear products, from initial design concepts through to production and market launch. They collaborate with designers, engineers, and manufacturers to ensure that shoes meet quality, cost, and performance standards. This role also involves managing timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams to bring innovative footwear to market efficiently. Directors of Footwear Development play a key strategic role in aligning product development with brand goals and consumer trends.

How does a director of footwear development typically collaborate with design, marketing, and production teams?

A Director of Footwear Development plays a central role in bridging the gap between creative design, marketing strategy, and manufacturing feasibility. This role involves regular meetings with designers to ensure concepts are both innovative and manufacturable, close alignment with marketing to address consumer trends and brand needs, and continuous communication with production teams to resolve technical challenges and maintain timelines. Effective collaboration is key to launching successful footwear collections on schedule and within budget, often requiring strong project management and interpersonal skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of footwear development?

To thrive as a Director of Footwear Development, you need deep expertise in footwear design, materials science, product development, and a degree in industrial design or a related field. Proficiency with design software like Adobe Creative Suite, 3D modeling tools, and knowledge of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems is typically required. Exceptional leadership, project management, and cross-functional communication skills help drive innovation and align teams. These skills ensure products meet market needs, maintain quality standards, and are delivered efficiently from concept to production.

What is the difference between Director Footwear Development vs Footwear Product Manager?

AspectDirector Footwear DevelopmentFootwear Product Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire footwear development process, manages teams, sets strategic goalsFocuses on product planning, market research, and coordinating product launches
CredentialsTypically requires extensive footwear design, engineering experience, and leadership skillsRequires product management experience, market knowledge, and design understanding
Work EnvironmentLeadership in design studios, R&D labs, and manufacturing settingsCross-functional teams, marketing, and sales departments

The main difference is that the Director Footwear Development leads the entire footwear creation process and team, focusing on strategic development, while the Footwear Product Manager concentrates on product planning, market analysis, and ensuring product success in the market.

More about Director Footwear Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Footwear Development jobs? Cities with the most Director Footwear Development job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Footwear Development jobs? The most popular types of Footwear Development jobs are:
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Director Footwear Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Footwear Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,350 per year, or $44.9 per hour.

Sr. Director, Product Development and Merchandising - Performance Running

Skechers

Manhattan Beach, CA • On-site

$225K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Skechers rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 174 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

41st of 61 rated fashion and textile manufacturers

Job description

WHO WE ARE:
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers-the Comfort Technology Company®-has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
Lead the strategy and execution of Skechers' Technical Performance Running Footwear division, translating sport and consumer insights into innovative products that deliver unrivaled comfort and performance for consumers. Drive category growth through cross-functional partnership with design, marketing, and sales. This position will primarily be responsible for leading the strategy and development Technical Running footwear.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
  • Proven track record of delivering pinnacle technical running performance footwear solutions that drove measurable business growth (category expansion, margin improvement, or market share gains).
  • Translate insights into strategy: Leverage sport, trend, and consumer data to define category vision and product priorities.
  • Strong merchandising background with the ability to build, balance, and position a performance product line that meets both consumer demand and business objectives.
  • Lead product creation: Oversee the performance footwear development process from concept to market, ensuring alignment with KPIs (margin, sell-through, category growth, consumer satisfaction).
  • Commercial alignment: Balance innovation and commercial viability, working with Product Management to deliver margin requirements, market readiness, and long-term brand positioning.
  • Proven ability to lead, galvanize, and inspire high-performing teams with strong leadership IQ, fostering collaboration, accountability, and alignment to shared goals.
  • Lead and mentor direct reports on the Product Management team, providing strategic direction, professional development, and clear prioritization to ensure alignment with Technical Performance goals.
  • Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to effectively influence and inspire both internal stakeholders and external partners.
  • Analyze sales reports to ensure achievement of KPI's and optimize future line planning.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
  • Deep understand of the running consumer and market.
  • Advanced analytical skills with strong business acumen.
  • Ability to lead initiatives with flexibility to adapt and pivot quickly.
  • Capable of leading product development efforts and issues.
  • Team-first approach.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Able to work extra hours as needed.
  • Ability to travel as needed.

REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
  • College degree, preferably in business/marketing.
  • 10+ years in footwear product management and category leadership, with emphasis on performance-driven categories.
  • Strong technical running footwear background.
  • Experience garnering athlete insights and turning them into actionable product briefs.
  • Demonstrated success in scaling performance product lines from concept to market.

The pay range for this position is $225,000-$250,000/yr USD.
About Skechers
Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing benefits@skechers.com.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

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