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Footwear Color Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$120K - $135K/yr

Arch Fit brought podiatrist‑certified support to everyday footwear. GO WALK made comfort ... You'll be working directly with the Sr. Director of Color & Materials, alongside merchandising and ...

Own color, material, leather, hardware, and construction direction for seasonal collections while ... Mentor and develop the Footwear Designer through regular coaching, constructive feedback, and ...

Own color, material, leather, hardware, and construction direction for seasonal collections while ... Mentor and develop the Footwear Designer through regular coaching, constructive feedback, and ...

Own color, material, leather, hardware, and construction direction for seasonal collections while ... Mentor and develop the Footwear Designer through regular coaching, constructive feedback, and ...

Manage two direct reports, Associate Manager and Manager of Footwear Costing. You'll Need to Have ... color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, military status ...

Footwear Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Work with design team to create moods for the season (color palettes, prints, materials, etc ... Direct applicants only, no third-party staffing inquiries, please. #Li-Onsite Employment Type ...

Showing results 21-40

Footwear Color Director information

What is a footwear color director?

Footwear Color Directors are professionals responsible for overseeing the color strategy and palette selection for footwear collections. They analyze fashion trends, consumer preferences, and market data to guide the design team in developing appealing and innovative colorways for shoes. Their role involves collaborating with designers, material experts, and marketing teams to ensure color choices align with brand identity and seasonal themes. Ultimately, they help shape the visual impact and commercial success of footwear products through color direction.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a footwear color director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Footwear Color Director, you need a strong background in color theory, fashion design, and trend forecasting, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard design software like Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with color management systems are typically required. Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills help drive creative vision and align teams. These skills ensure innovative, market-relevant color strategies that resonate with consumers and strengthen brand identity.

How does a footwear color director typically collaborate with design and marketing teams during the product development process?

A Footwear Color Director works closely with both design and marketing teams to ensure that color strategies align with brand vision and market trends. They participate in brainstorming sessions, provide color palettes, and guide designers on material selection to achieve cohesive and impactful designs. Additionally, they collaborate with marketing to ensure color stories are effectively communicated to consumers and support seasonal campaigns. Regular cross-functional meetings and feedback loops are typical, helping to maintain consistency and innovation throughout the development cycle.

What is the difference between Footwear Color Director vs Footwear Designer?

AspectFootwear Color DirectorFootwear Designer
Primary FocusOversees color schemes and trends for footwear collectionsCreates overall footwear designs, including shape, materials, and aesthetics
Required SkillsColor theory, trend forecasting, collaboration with design teamsSketching, material selection, technical drawing, creativity
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, fashion houses, footwear companiesDesign studios, footwear brands, fashion industry
Common CertificationsFashion or design degrees, color certification coursesFashion design degrees, portfolio development

While both roles are integral to footwear development, the Footwear Color Director specializes in color strategy and trend forecasting, ensuring the footwear aligns with current fashion trends. The Footwear Designer focuses on creating the overall look and feel of the shoe, including shape and materials. Both roles often collaborate closely but serve distinct functions within the footwear industry.

What are popular job titles related to Footwear Color Director jobs?

For Footwear Color Director jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Footwear Color Director job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Footwear Designer - Color, Material & Finish

Manhattan Beach, CA • On-site

Skechers
Retail • 10K+ employees

$120K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Skechers rating

6.5

Company rating: 6.5 out of 10

Based on 177 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Skechers was built on better questions. About comfort. About value. About what people actually needed from their shoes. Then we engineered the answers. Slip-ins reimagined how people put on shoes. Arch Fit brought podiatrist-certified support to everyday footwear. GO WALK made comfort accessible to millions.
The result is one of the great growth stories in consumer brand history. A company that started in a small Manhattan Beach office in 1992 is now the world's third-largest footwear brand. More than $9 billion in annual sales, products in over 180 countries, and double-digit growth, all while the rest of the industry fights for single digits.
None of it happened by waiting for permission. It happened because the right people treated the business as their own, moved fast, and worked together toward outcomes that showed up in the market. That's the standard we hire to. We're not managing a legacy. We're building one.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
Color, material, and finish are where footwear either earns its place on the shelf or disappears into the noise. This role sits at the intersection of trend intelligence and execution. You'll be working directly with the Sr. Director of Color & Materials, alongside merchandising and development teams, shaping how Skechers product looks and feels every season. If you've spent years developing that instinct and skill, keep reading.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
You'll lead the color, material, and graphic concepting for Women's Sport footwear each season - from early concepting through tech pack delivery. The work spans new product development and refreshing existing franchise styles to keep them relevant and commercially sharp. On any given week, you're likely to be:
  • Digging into trend research across runway, retail and, materials. Then translating findings into product decisions that are brand-right and buildable.
  • Partnering with development teams in the U.S. and Asia to review prototypes and ensure samples reflect design intent before they move forward.
  • Traveling to Asia twice a year for hands-on factory and development collaboration.
  • Moving multiple projects in parallel, hitting calendar deadlines, and keeping cross-timezone development work on track.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
The person who succeeds here brings a sharp eye, a deep process, and the experience to back both up. Specifically:
  • At least two years of footwear design experience with genuine fluency in CMF - not just aesthetics, but materials sourcing, construction implications, and what decisions look like at the factory level.
  • Sketching ability precise enough that your design intent doesn't get lost in translation when it crosses an ocean.
  • Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, used as working tools, not finishing tools.
  • The ability to read where color and material trends are heading before they peak - and the judgment to know which ones are worth chasing.
  • A degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, or a related field is preferred, but the quality of your work and the depth of your process matter more.

The pay range for this position is $120,000-$135,000/yr USD.
#LI-TB1
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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