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Footwear Development Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Genesco Inc

Footwear Costing Manager

Nashville, TN

... Group footwear costing process, leading seasonal product costing. The Costing Manager will also ... Collaborate with the design & development team and suppliers to ensure costing timelines are met ...

Genesco Inc

Footwear Costing Manager

Nashville, TN · On-site

How You Will Make an Impact Collaborate with the design & development team and suppliers to ensure ... GBG footwear. Execute financial analysis before, during, and after the season to review gross ...

Genesco

Footwear Costing Manager

Nashville, TN

... Group footwear costing process, leading seasonal product costing. The Costing Manager will also ... Collaborate with the design & development team and suppliers to ensure costing timelines are met ...

Genesco

Footwear Costing Manager

Nashville, TN · On-site

... Group footwear costing process, leading seasonal product costing. The Costing Manager will also ... Collaborate with the design & development team and suppliers to ensure costing timelines are met ...

Famous Footwear

Material Handler

Lebanon, TN · On-site

$16 - $19.50/hr

Famous Footwear Position If you're looking for that next step in your career, make it famous! To us ... learning and development of trainees. Essential Functions * Adheres to, and assists in the ...

Caleres

Part-Time Sales Lead - Famous Footwear

Madison, TN · On-site

$14 - $17/hr

Career Development and Learning Opportunities. We provide education assistance of up to $7500 per ... Famous Footwear is part of Caleres Inc., a diverse portfolio of 15 global footwear brands including ...

Caleres

Material Handler

Lebanon, TN · On-site

$16 - $19.50/hr

Famous Footwear Position If you're looking for that next step in your career, make it famous! To us ... learning and development of trainees. Essential Functions * Adheres to, and assists in the ...

Caleres

Material Handler

Lebanon, TN · On-site

$16 - $19.50/hr

Famous Footwear is your place for athletic, fashion and casual shoes for the whole family from ... learning and development of trainees. Essential Functions * Adheres to, and assists in the ...

Skechers

Retail Sales Associate

Knoxville, TN · On-site

$14.50/hr

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 ...

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All JobsFootwear Development JobsFootwear Development Jobs in Tennessee

Footwear Development information

See Tennessee salary details

$26.3K

$48.5K

$73.5K

How much do footwear development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for footwear development in Tennessee is $48,483.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,600.00 and $54,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is footwear development?

Footwear development is the process of designing, engineering, and producing new types of shoes, sandals, boots, or other kinds of footwear. This role involves collaborating with designers, material suppliers, and manufacturers to bring innovative footwear concepts from initial sketches to final products. Footwear developers focus on fit, comfort, performance, and aesthetics while ensuring products meet quality and cost standards. They use their understanding of materials, construction techniques, and market trends to create footwear that meets consumer needs and brand goals.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in footwear development, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Footwear Development often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative design with manufacturing feasibility, managing tight production timelines, and ensuring materials meet quality and sustainability standards. Effective communication with designers, suppliers, and production teams is essential to overcome these hurdles. Staying up-to-date with industry trends and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams can help anticipate and resolve issues early in the development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in footwear development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Footwear Development, you need a solid understanding of materials, product design, and manufacturing processes, often supported by a degree in industrial design, engineering, or a related field. Proficiency in CAD software, prototyping tools, and familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems are typically required. Creative problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional communication set standout professionals apart. These skills ensure innovative, functional, and market-ready footwear products that meet both aesthetic and performance standards.

What is the difference between Footwear Development vs Footwear Design?

AspectFootwear DevelopmentFootwear Design
Primary FocusProduct creation, manufacturing processes, material selectionConcepts, aesthetics, style, and visual appeal
Skills & CredentialsTechnical knowledge, engineering, CAD, manufacturing expertiseCreativity, fashion sense, CAD, illustration skills
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, manufacturers, engineersWorks closely with designers, marketing teams, and clients

Footwear Development focuses on turning design concepts into manufacturable products, emphasizing technical and production aspects. In contrast, Footwear Design centers on creating the visual and aesthetic aspects of footwear. Both roles often collaborate but serve different stages of the product creation process.

What are popular job titles related to Footwear Development jobs in Tennessee?

For Footwear Development jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Footwear Development jobs in Tennessee look for?

The top searched job categories for Footwear Development jobs in Tennessee are:

Footwear Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Footwear Development job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,483 per year, or $23.3 per hour.

Product Development Specialist - Women's Footwear - Johnston & Murphy

Genesco

Nashville, TN • Hybrid

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Genesco rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 32 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

74th of 104 rated fashion retailers

Job description

The Ideal Candidate 

The Product Development Specialist, Women’s Footwear, plays a key role in the seasonal product creation process, partnering closely with Design, Development, and Product Line Management. This hybrid role supports product development from concept through commercialization by managing product data, specifications, materials, and cross-functional communication. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and thrives in a fast-paced environment while balancing multiple priorities.

 

How You Will Make an Impact 

  • Serve as a key liaison between Design, Development, and Product Line Management (PLM) to support a seamless seasonal product creation process.
  • Create and maintain product specifications, line sheets, and product information within PLM systems, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
  • Coordinate the seasonal materials process, including material libraries, swatch management, sample material requests, and approval tracking.
  • Ensure timely and accurate communication of development updates, changes, approvals, and action items across internal and global partner teams.
  • Participate in fit sessions and milestone reviews; document findings and communicate feedback and direction to overseas development teams and factory partners.
  • Partner with the Johnston & Murphy Costing team to manage product costing, conduct seasonal cost analyses, and identify solutions to meet margin objectives.


Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have

  • Bachelor’s degree ideally in a related field of study.
  • Minimum of 4-6 years of footwear or accessories industry experience.
  • Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships both internally across departments and externally with suppliers.
  • Effective time/calendar management, highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to fast-paced, evolving development cycles.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and industry-specific tools such as Product Line Management and Development software.
  • Driven, self-starter with a desire to learn and grow their career.
  • Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally.

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    What Genesco employees say

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    Benefits

    Hours and flexibility

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    Get the full story on Breakroom

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    About Genesco

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    Genesco Inc., based in Nashville, TN, US, is a publicly owned specialty retail company operating in the footwear, apparel, and accessories industry. The company was initially founded in 1924 as Jarman Shoe Company before eventually transitioning to its current name in 1959. Currently, it operates numerous retail stores in the US and Puerto Rico, including popular brands like Journeys, Johnston & Murphy, and Lids Sports Group. Genesco's mission is to be the leading specialty retailer in the footwear, headwear, and sports apparel industries through providing high quality products and demonstrating excellent customer service. Some of the company's notable achievements include the successful ownership and growth of multiple well-known fashion brands and a significant retail footprint in North America.

    Industry

    Retail

    Company size

    10,000+ Employees

    Headquarters location

    Nashville, TN, US

    Year founded

    1924

    Social media

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