Senior Design Manager, Pinnacle Footwear

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Senior Design Manager, Footwear at Vans looks a little like this. As a Senior Design Manager, Footwear, you will work within the Footwear Design team, focusing on creating innovative and brand-right collections for Vans. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, and Consumer Insights to deliver seasonal assortments that reflect Vans’ brand vision and cultural leadership.

You will report directly to the Senior Director of Footwear.

• Drive the design development of Pinnacle Footwear collections in alignment with seasonal concepts, brand vision, and cultural leadership.
• Conduct trend, consumer, and business analysis to inform design strategies and ensure market relevanceli>
• Lead the creation of innovative footwear concepts, sketches, and design specifications, ensuring technical feasibility and brand-right execution.
• Oversee material selection, color allocation, and development of finishes, managing sample reviews and final approvals for premium products.
• Inspire, coach, and motivate the Footwear Design team through seasonal collections and special projects, fostering creative excellence.
• Implement sustainable design practices and process efficiencies through effective calendar management and tool optimization.
• Cultivate a collaborative and innovative environment that champions creativity, progression, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Partner with global and regional teams (Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Consumer Insights, etc.) to drive the GTM pipeline for Pinnacle Footwear.
• Manage the end-to-end design process from pre-season research and concept development through cost‑engineering and bulk approvals.
• Ensure clear communication and alignment across all stakeholders involved in the product lifecycle to deliver premium, brand-right collections.

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 8–10 years of experience and professional achievements.

Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Minimum 3–5 years of leadership experience managing and developing design teams, with a proven ability to coach, mentor, and elevate creative talent.

Proficiency in design software and tools (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D modeling tools, PLM systems) with the ability to leverage technology for innovation and efficiency.

Ability to translate consumer insights, trend research, and brand vision into innovative, premium footwear concepts that drive category leadership.

Demonstrated ability to set clear design direction and lead multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment, ensuring priorities and deadlines are achieved through strategic calendar and process management.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the capability to integrate creative vision, technical feasibility, and commercial goals.

Expertise in footwear construction, materials, lasts, and manufacturing processes, including cost‑engineering considerations to balance creativity and business objectives.

Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to lead, influence, and align global cross-functional teams toward shared strategic objectives.

Proven ability to lead strategic alignment and decision-making across Merchandising, Development, and Planning teams, driving consensus and influencing outcomes to achieve shared business and creative goals.

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Our…