Men's Footwear Designer II - Genesco Brands Group

The Ideal Candidate

The Footwear Designer will join the Genesco Branded Group's Design Team and report to the SVP of Design, contributing to the creation of commercial, brand-relevant footwear for Wrangler and Dockers, as well as other brands and private label programs within the portfolio. This role is ideal for a designer with a strong point of view in the design of men's focused western-inspired and outdoor-influenced footwear, as well as a strong appreciation for workwear, utility, durability, and authentic constructions as they relate to modern consumer needs.

Working collaboratively with product development and cross-functional partners, the designer will design and develop product concepts that align with each brand's lifestyle positioning, target consumer, and market opportunity. The position requires hands-on involvement throughout the design process-from concept and trend research through execution-with a particular emphasis on men's boots, rugged casual footwear, and outdoor-oriented constructions that balance function, comfort, and commercial viability across a range of categories.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Under the direction of the SVP of Design, the Footwear Designer will design and develop products that are industry leading, brand relevant, and commercial.
• Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to create market relevant products across multiple categories, ensuring integrity with respect to last, upper, and model development.
• Execute the complete vision, including Color/Cads and Materials, along with fully completed tech packs.
• Deliver on-time product solutions in conjunction with the Product Development calendar and varying business needs, ensuring that all deadlines, line plans, and deliverables are met.
• Provide and present timely and relevant business, design, consumer, and cultural storytelling in conjunction with specific projects and briefs.
• Study and research current and future trends; maintain expert knowledge in design trends, production techniques, and new technologies.
• Special projects as assigned.

Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have

• Bachelor's degree in industrial design or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in footwear design.
• Must have a strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite - Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Ability to create mechanical drawings and read blueprints.
• Must have working knowledge of duty rates of footwear, aiding in material selections in hitting pricing objectives.
• Must be proficient in creating line art and color cads in Illustrator.
• Working knowledge of Macintosh systems, Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook, and PLM.
• Must have traditional hands-on footwear development skills - Proto corrections, materials, tech packs, specs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Energetic, inspiring, creative, forward-thinking, and enthusiastic about design.
• Self-motivated and equally comfortable working within a team - must be a team player.
• Organized, structured, asks questions, and seeks understanding first.
• Pushes oneself to exceed expectations.
• Excels at being adaptable, versatile, and able to work under pressure.
• Ability to work under deadlines, manage multiple priorities, work independently, take initiative, and pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities and fast track projects as needed.
• Strong knowledge of fashion and market trends with an understanding of each brands market position and the drive to evolve it.
• Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally.