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Footwear Design Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vfc

3D CAD Footwear Designer (Altra)

Denver, CO · On-site

$27.75 - $38.25/hr

This role reports to the Design Director, Footwear. Let's break down that day-in-the-life a bit more. * Create high-quality 3D models of footwear concepts, components, and tooling that support inline ...

VF Corporation

3D CAD Footwear Designer (Altra)

Denver, CO · On-site

$27.75 - $38.25/hr

This role reports to the Design Director, Footwear. Let's break down that day-in-the-life a bit more. * Create high-quality 3D models of footwear concepts, components, and tooling that support inline ...

Oboz Footwear

Senior Footwear Designer

Bozeman, MT · On-site

$104K - $111K/yr

Partnering with the Footwear Design Director, Footwear Team, and cross-functional partners, you'll help shape the product vision from concept through creation, building on Obōz's legacy of ...

Adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · Hybrid

As a Footwear Designer for adidas Golf, you will lead the creation of globally relevant and ... In partnership with the Design Director and cross-functional teams, you will ensure product aligns ...

Adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

As a Footwear Designer for adidas Golf, you will lead the creation of globally relevant and ... In partnership with the Design Director and cross-functional teams, you will ensure product aligns ...

adidas

Footwear Designer (Golf)

Carlsbad, CA · Hybrid

As a Footwear Designer for adidas Golf, you will lead the creation of globally relevant and ... In partnership with the Design Director and cross-functional teams, you will ensure product aligns ...

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Footwear Design Director information

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$37K

$135.8K

$243K

How much do footwear design director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for footwear design director 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the footwear design director position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Footwear Design Director, you need a strong background in footwear design, trend analysis, product development, and a degree in fashion or industrial design. Mastery of design software like Adobe Illustrator and CAD programs, along with familiarity with prototyping and manufacturing processes, is essential. Leadership ability, creativity, and clear communication are standout soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with cross-functional departments. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering innovative, market-leading footwear collections that align with brand and business objectives.

What is a footwear design director?

A Footwear Design Director leads the creative vision and design strategy for a brand's footwear collections. They oversee design teams, ensure products align with market trends and brand identity, and collaborate with development, marketing, and production teams. Their role involves trend research, material selection, and innovation while balancing aesthetics, functionality, and cost. They also mentor designers and ensure the brand stays competitive in the footwear industry.

What are the typical responsibilities of a footwear design director on a day-to-day basis?

A Footwear Design Director oversees the creative direction of footwear collections, guiding a team of designers from concept development through to final production. Daily tasks include reviewing design concepts, leading brainstorming sessions, collaborating with marketing, merchandising, and development teams, and ensuring designs align with brand strategy. The director often interacts with manufacturers to ensure feasibility and quality, while also staying on top of industry trends and consumer preferences. This role is both creative and strategic, requiring a balance of visionary thinking and practical execution to successfully bring new products to market.

More about Footwear Design Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Footwear Design Director jobs? Cities with the most Footwear Design Director job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Footwear Design jobs? The most popular types of Footwear Design jobs are:
What states have the most Footwear Design Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Footwear Design Director jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Footwear Design Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Footwear Design Director jobs are:
Footwear Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Footwear Design Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 83% In-person, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,763 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Footwear Design Director, Nike Basketball Signature Athlete

Nike

Beaverton, OR • On-site

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Nike rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 274 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 104 rated fashion retailers

Job description

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
As our Footwear Design Director for Nike Basketball Signature Athlete, you will direct the creation of industry-leading footwear bringing bold concepts to life. You will solve complex design challenges and create iconic products that inspire through both function and form.
Inspired by the signature athlete, you will help define a new visual language for Nike Basketball-one that expresses sport through style, performance, and modern design. This role requires both creative ambition and strategic focus, partnering across a global brand to build scalable design systems and advance creative innovation.
The ideal candidate is a visionary designer with exceptional taste, a refined aesthetic point of view, and an unwavering commitment to craft. They bring a sharp eye for detail, proportion, materiality, and execution, consistently delivering elevated design solutions. Through strong creative leadership, they will develop compelling products that resonate emotionally with consumers both on and off the court.
With a deep understanding of cultural relevance, consumer insights, and emerging trends, this individual will continually challenge industry conventions and set a high standard for creativity, desirability, and aesthetic excellence.
  • Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
  • 10+ years working in Design or related field
  • Exceptional knowledge of design, art, and fashion, as well as passion for sport and youth culture
  • Expert knowledge of form, color, materials, human factors, related to elevating the consumer experience
  • Ability to translate consumer knowledge and insights into product solutions and narratives
  • Experience in technical footwear design - basketball design is a plus
  • Strong Photoshop, Illustrator skills
  • Must be able to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs)
  • Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
  • 3D design programs experience is a plus
  • Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
  • Expert knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
  • Must be able to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project
  • Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, etc.
  • Positive personality and energy
  • Ability and passion to lead, coach, collaborate, and onboard Design teammates
  • Contribute and align to shared team culture and behaviors
  • Catalyst to make connections with other Design groups
  • Lead + drive partnerships beyond the Design function (Marketing, Engineering, Development, etc.)
  • Collaborator with a skill in connecting the dots
  • Speaks up with courage for self and the team
  • Open minded, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view
  • Being a hooper is not a requirement but being passionate and curious to learn about basketball and the athlete* is.

*If you have a body, you are an athlete
**TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE SUBMIT A FOOTWEAR DESIGN FOCUSED PORTFOLIO (PDF OR URL ON RESUME WITH PASSWORD PROVIDED IF APPLICABLE)
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
You will collaborate and mentor within the design community (concept designers, industrial designers, materials, color, graphics, computational, etc.), and work hand in hand with a large project team of different professionals (product managers, developers, researchers, marketing, costing, etc.). This role reports directly the Sr Creative Director, Kobe Brand + Nike Basketball. You will also manage a Lead Footwear Designer.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
In Nike Basketball, you will work on designs that push the possibilities of the human potential through footwear (and beyond). We expect you to explore new opportunities, take risks, and change the game! In your day to day, you will engage with project teammates on researching, gaining insights, problem solving around performance and manufacturing, working with athletes, and crafting a vast range of creative and appealing solutions, that are also sustainable and considerate of cost. With each project, you are encouraged to also participate and present the work in informal and formal reviews. In addition to individual project work, the Footwear Design Director will also collaborate and help build the design direction with the Senior Creative Director. As a top-tier designer with deep knowledge and experience in footwear, you will be seen as a team leader and mentor for other designers
We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

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