Senior Footwear Designer / Design Director

About the role

Vida Shoes International, a global leader in the footwear industry since 1973, is seeking a creative, passionate, and organized Senior Footwear Designer / Design Director. This role involves collaborating cross-functionally with Product Development, Sales, Production, and Licensor’s Merchandising teams to build seasonal collections that meet customer business needs and internal margin expectations. The ideal candidate brings a collaborative, enthusiastic, and growth-minded perspective to the team.

Responsibilities

• Build product lines from creative concept to final approved prototypes.
• Sketch (hand sketch & Illustrator/CAD/AI) and create specs and tech packs for overseas manufacturing teams.
• Develop and execute competitive product lines that align with the brand’s strategic objectives, quality components, and trend concepts.
• Conduct design forecasting and research market trends.
• Shop for inspirational designs and analyze the competitive landscape each season.
• Develop and organize seasonal colors and materials.
• Collaborate with the design team to create seasonal moods (color palettes, prints, materials, etc.).
• Prepare sketch boards and trend boards for team proto review meetings.
• Deliver presentations with a focused viewpoint and confidence to senior management, licensing teams, sales teams, and retailers.
• Communicate with overseas offices and travel to factories when necessary.
• Write production specs and assist in fit approvals for commercialization.

Requirements

• College design degree highly preferred.
• 8+ years of footwear design experience.
• Strong hand sketching ability and organizational skills.
• Technical ability and experience in fit-correcting shoes.
• Knowledge of synthetic materials and leathers.
• Familiarity with the development process and working with overseas factories and customers preferred.
• Ability to manage time, multitask, and pay strong attention to detail in a team environment.
• Strong Illustrator and Photoshop skills required; knowledge of CAD systems (e.g., AI technology) is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Definitive fashion sense with a passion for trends and the ability to interpret them for mass appeal to meet business needs.
• Ability to prioritize and execute in a highly fluid environment.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and driven with a strong work ethic.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Pay

$80,000.00 - $130,000.00 (actual salary determined based on candidate’s skill sets, years of experience, and other job-related factors).