Footwear Designer- Women’s Brand

Overview

Job Posting/

Description:

ON SITE Vida Shoes International is a private footwear company established in 1973, located in New York with a global presence. We are seeking a creative, strategic, and detail-oriented Designer to join our design team in New York City. The ideal candidate brings strong product sensibility, market awareness, and expertise in footwear construction, with the ability to take concepts from ideation through commercialization.

This role collaborates cross-functionally with merchandising, development, sales, and overseas partners to deliver collections that are brand-appropriate, trend-relevant, and commercially successful. The Designer will contribute to line planning, sample management, and product presentations while mentoring and supporting the seasonal design process end-to-end.

Job Title: Footwear Designer, Women’s Brand

Compensation: $75k-85k

• Concept, sketch, and develop seasonal collections aligned to brand DNA, market trends, and target consumer.
• Manage a brand independently, full design process from conception to development, with minimal guidance from Senior Design Director.
• Conduct trend shopping and research (domestic & international) across materials, silhouettes, colors, and competitive sets.
• Create CADs, tech packs, and product specifications for overseas development teams.
• Partner with merchandising on line architecture, consumer positioning, pricing, and brand/category strategy.
• Collaborate with development teams to ensure manufacturability, quality, fit, and adherence to margin and cost targets.
• Participate in proto reviews, fit sessions, commercialization, and production handoff.
• Review samples at all stages and provide clear construction, pattern, and material feedback.
• Prepare boards and presentations for internal reviews, sales meetings, licensing partners, and retail accounts.
• Track sampling, manage approvals, and maintain seasonal line sheets.
• Communicate daily with overseas partners and factories throughout development cycle.
• Identify white space and new product opportunities to expand assortment and drive growth.
• Mentor and support the design team; contribute to process improvements and team organization.
• Travel as needed to factories, trade shows, or market research.

• Bachelor’s degree in Design or related field preferred.
• 4+ years of footwear design experience, ideally across lifestyle, fashion, or branded product.
• Strong understanding of footwear construction, fit, materials, costing, and commercialization.
• Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, and digital CAD; hand sketching ability strongly preferred.
• Experience creating tech packs, specs, and detailed construction notes for overseas development.
• Strong trend sensibility with a commercial mindset; ability to interpret trends for brand and consumer.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and seasonal calendars in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter with strong work ethic, organization, and follow-through.
• Experience managing junior designers or overseeing design workflow is a plus.

Note: Vida Shoes International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. At this time, only qualified candidates will be contacted. Direct applicants only, no third-party staffing inquiries, please.