Director Materials & Product Development-HYBRID

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.

• Managing the Full Lifecycle of Development
  Balance design intent with manufacturability and scalability.

• Establishing and Maintaining 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.

• Guiding Teams in Evaluating Construction Methods, Performance Needs, and Aesthetic Expectations

• Building and Maintaining 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.

• Monitoring Market Trends, Emerging Technologies, and Consumer Insights
  To inform product and materials direction.

• Exploring 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.

• Collaborating 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.

• Leading and Developing a Team (3–7 Direct Reports)
  Foster collaboration, accountability, and growth.

• Partnering 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.
  Solid understanding of footwear or product construction and manufacturing processes.
  Strong 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.

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.

• 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.