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Director Shoe Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe ... Partner with Copy Director and other writers to concept projects and to give and receive feedback

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Retail Associate (PT)

Orem, UT · On-site

$15 - $20.50/hr

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Provide direct support in the daily operations of the retail store OTHER DUTIES AND ... Uphold Red Wing Shoe Company's core values * Willingness to perform additional duties as required

Partner alongside the Senior Design Director for entire product design process including market research, mood board creation, designing of styles and shoe constructions * Create Technical spec ...

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Director Shoe Designer information

See salary details

$37K

$135.8K

$243K

How much do director shoe designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for director shoe designer in the United States is $135,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Shoe Designer vs Footwear Product Developer?

AspectDirector Shoe DesignerFootwear Product Developer
CredentialsDesign degree, portfolio, industry experienceDesign or engineering degree, technical skills, industry experience
Work EnvironmentCreative studios, design teams, brand officesManufacturing facilities, design teams, product testing labs
Industry UsageFashion brands, luxury footwear companiesShoe brands, sportswear companies, footwear manufacturers

The main difference is that a Director Shoe Designer focuses on leading the creative vision and design process, while a Footwear Product Developer handles the technical development and production aspects. Both roles require industry experience and collaboration, but the Director emphasizes design innovation, whereas the Product Developer concentrates on feasibility and manufacturing.

More about Director Shoe Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Shoe Designer jobs? Cities with the most Director Shoe Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Shoe Designer jobs? The most popular types of Shoe Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Director Shoe Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Shoe Designer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Shoe Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,763 per year, or $65.3 per hour.
Director Materials & Product Development-HYBRID

Director Materials & Product Development-HYBRID

Designer Brands

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 25 days ago


Designer Brands rating

4.6

Company rating: 4.6 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee's unique perspective contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of "We Love What We Do," "We Own What We Do," "We Do What's Right," and "We Belong," we continuously drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot forward.
Director, Materials and Product Development
The Opportunity
At Designer Brands, we're passionate about bringing great design to life in a way that resonates with customers and stands the test of time. As the Director, Materials and Product Development, you will play a critical role in turning creative vision into products that are not only beautiful, but also practical, high-quality, and ready for the real world.
This role sits at the center of design, sourcing, and production-connecting ideas to execution. You'll lead the development of materials and product strategies across the lifecycle, helping teams make smart decisions that balance creativity, cost, quality, and sustainability. Your work will shape how our products come to life season after season. This position is HYBRID to our NYC office.
What You'll Be Doing
Leading End-to-End Development
  • Lead materials and product development initiatives from concept through preproduction, ensuring alignment with brand DNA, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery timelines
  • Manage the full lifecycle of development, balancing design intent with manufacturability and scalability
  • Establish and maintain development calendars, milestone tracking, and sample management processes to support on-time execution

Bringing Design to Life
  • Partner with Design to translate creative vision into technically feasible products and material solutions
  • Guide teams in evaluating construction methods, performance needs, and aesthetic expectations
  • Build and maintain global footwear materials and embellishment toolboxes in partnership with cross-functional teams

Driving Material Innovation
  • Oversee research, development, selection, and commercialization of materials, including leathers, textiles, synthetics, trims, and embellishments
  • Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and consumer insights to inform product and materials direction
  • Explore opportunities to enhance product through innovation and evolving material capabilities

Optimizing Quality, Cost & Execution
  • Educate and support teams in understanding cost drivers, manufacturability, and margin implications early in development
  • Ensure accurate, complete, and production-ready product and material documentation
  • Collaborate with Global Sourcing and Production teams to align on vendor capabilities and ensure smooth transition to bulk production

Building Partnerships & Team Capability
  • Build strong vendor relationships to support feasibility reviews, technical problem-solving, and continuous improvement
  • Lead and develop a team (3-7 direct reports), fostering collaboration, accountability, and growth
  • Partner across functions and with senior leadership to influence decisions and drive aligned outcomes

What You'll Need
Core Expertise
  • Excellent technical knowledge of leather and materials, constructions, and finishing
  • Strong understanding of footwear or product construction and manufacturing processes
  • Solid grasp of cost engineering, margin drivers, and commercialization requirements

Leadership & Collaboration
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional materials and product development teams
  • Experience influencing stakeholders across functions and at senior levels
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Ways of Working
  • Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to translate creative design intent into practical, executable solutions
  • Process-oriented mindset with experience driving standardization and continuous improvement

Qualifications
Minimum Experience
  • 8-10+ years of experience in leathers, materials research and development, and product development
  • Direct experience working with global vendors and manufacturing partners, including Asia
  • 3-5+ years of people leadership experience

Minimum Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Engineering, Textile Science, Fashion Design, or a related field, or equivalent work experience

Preferred
  • Experience integrating sustainability initiatives into material and product development
  • Footwear, apparel, or accessories industry background
  • Exposure to digital material libraries, PLM systems, or 3D development tools

Perks and Benefits You'll Enjoy!
  • Your Sole Well-Being: Our benefits package is crafted with our associates in mind! We support you with benefits like free virtual health care, robust family/fertility benefits, 401(k) w/ match, and more. Explore our offerings at https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi
  • Stride with Flexibility: We offer hybrid and remote work opportunities, giving you the freedom to stay connected, productive, and inspired-wherever you do your best work.
  • Stepping Up Your Career: Take advantage of training programs, professional development, and education assistance to advance your career with a company that celebrates bold ideas and fresh perspectives.
  • We are Shoe-Obsessed: Because we know a great pair of shoes can change your day, you'll enjoy 30% off at DSW & DSW.com, plus discounts across our family of brands.

What Designer Brands employees say

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About Designer Brands

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Designer Brands Inc. is one of North America's largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories. * Designer Brands Inc. operates a portfolio of retail concepts in nearly 1,000 locations under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Shoe Warehouse brands and operates leased locations in the U.S through its Affiliated Business Group. * Designer Brands designs and produces footwear and accessories through Camuto Group, a leading manufacturer selling in more than 5,400 doors worldwide.

Industry

Retail

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Columbus, OH, US

Year founded

1969