Design Director Footwear

Create industry leading advanced design solutions that provide seasonal design direction. Lead and establish team and direction of designs provided by the Senior Design Director. Maintain and nurture the design, material and color direction with the Design team, Development, Marketing and the consumer. Influence wider horizontal design teams developing seasonal Brand initiatives across key categories based on direction given by Senior Design Director.

Key responsibilities:

Develop the seasonal Direction of the Design according to market trends as well as overall Design Direction and ensure consistency though products and ranges
Be at a global forefront of design trends and innovation as well as their application
Steer and drive the conceptualization process
Manage a team towards objectives and implement process changes
Steer and coach team members and their creative processes and drive development of direct reports.
Inspire and motivate teams to pursue cutting edge ideas that are innovative and original in the market, by researching functional criteria for product and product concepts and outlining area of innovation
Work closely with category and Future design to drive seamless collaboration.
Ensure the correct execution of Corporate Identity guidelines and against legal restrictions within the category.
Verbally present strategies with clarity and expertise.
Disseminate Design Strategy into design team and x-functional teams
Create professional level presentations of ideas; from loose sketch to detailed renderings to Digital Presentation
Ensure efficient processes and communication between external and internal teams

Knowledge skills and abilities:

Profound knowledge of fashion product and fashion design/industrial product or industrial design
Innovative and collaborative leader and coach
Excellent communication skills
Strong influencing skills
High level of initiative & maturity
Ability to inspire, think creatively and strategically as well as to act tactically
Problem solving attitude & can-do personality
Knowledge and use of Macintosh computer design software/systems (Photoshop, Illustrator)
Fluent in English (spoken and written)

Requisite education and experience / minimum qualifications:

Bachelor degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university in a relevant Design subject or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum of 8 years practical experience in a relevant area
Minimum of 3 years of management including team leadership