Associate Footwear Designer

Boot Barn • Irvine, CA

10d • $35 - $40 • Onsite

About The Position

Boot Barn is where community comes first. We thrive on togetherness, collaboration, and belonging. We build each other up, listen intently, and implement out-of-the-box ideas. We celebrate new innovations, congratulate one another’s achievements, and most importantly support each other. At Boot Barn, we work together to make a positive impact on the world around us, and by working collectively with encouragement, we consider ourselves “Partners.” With the values of the West guiding us, Boot Barn celebrates heritage, welcomes all, and values each unique Partner within our Boot Barn community. Our vision is to offer everyone a piece of the American spirit – one handshake at a time. The Associate Designer supports design leadership by participating in seasonal design activities, creating tech packs, updating, maintaining, and archiving product development materials, and cataloging seasonal development documentation for Exclusive Brands Design team, across multiple brands. In addition, the Associate Designer communicates internally with product development teams and externally with domestic and overseas vendors while maintaining a clear follow-up to all product development hand offs and communication.

Requirements

• Strong communication, customer service, time management and organizational skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or equivalent experience in footwear product development
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in footwear design or related field
• Basic level of footwear construction knowledge preferred, with ability to read blueprints
• Computer Skill: included proficiency in Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign is essential.
• Must be extremely well organized, work well under pressure and be a strong problem solver
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience meeting multiple deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative to achieve departmental and corporate objectives.
• General knowledge of merchandising and critical product construction.
• Excellent presentation skills of both design and final presentation.
• Prior experience with web PLM / WebPDM a plus
• International travel required

Nice To Haves

• Basic level of footwear construction knowledge preferred, with ability to read blueprints
• Prior experience with web PLM / WebPDM a plus

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design process for categories and brands as assigned and present design options for review within the timeframe established by the seasonal calendars
• Assist brand and category leads with CAD’s, graphics, and pattern work as requested
• Maintain and keep current footwear materials library with updated material catalogs seasonally
• Ensure that tech packs are complete prior to milestone deadline with all necessary information before sending to factories, including: appropriate line art views, specific detail callouts as needed, style spec sheets, platform requirements, and sample references as needed.
• Assist with the creation and management of Presentation Boards, Line Sheets and Tech packs, including sketch, colorways, construction details, and specification sheets.
• Update/Edit all tech pack content as required for all assigned areas.
• Maintain shared web folders of accessible image art, trim standards and tech packs
• Partner with Director/senior designers to set up and update Work in Progress (WIP) spreadsheet
• Ensure that all design, artwork, prints and fabrics for sourcing are sent in correct format with all correct information to suppliers
• Track all requested prototype, fit, advertising, and confirmation samples, and update progress to category/brand designers weekly.
• Follow most recent branding guidelines and corporate branding standards
• Conduct new style fittings, and prepare evaluation documents noting both overall fit confirmation or concerns, and specific comfort issues
• Take on ownership of individual projects while working on collaborative projects
• Assist in designing into targeted price-points, categories, and silhouettes in accordance with margin requirements
• Participate and prepare for PD process milestone meetings
• Log and keep current all regulatory and material test results for new and existing models
• Assist in reviewing all assortments to deliver consistent color, trend, and creative direction across targeted lifestyle to ensure premium brand positioning
• Assist design leadership in seasonal concept and creation of commercially viable products
• Assist design leadership with seasonal trend and color analysis
• Review return goods with the sourcing teams identifying material or design flaws, and suggesting product improvements
• Responsible for assisting lead design to develop a collection that is consistent with brand and collaborating with the Design Director to meet all margin targets.
• Observing initial seasonal merchandising plan by delivery and reviewing with the Design team to understand and support the needs of the business.
• Assists create, publish, and maintain the Seasonal Line List to be provided to Exclusive Brands leadership
• Partner with vendor, designer, and project management to ensure materials, design details, and footwear are within cost parameters while providing value to the seasonal line.
• Demonstrates high level of quality work, attendance and appearance.
• Demonstrates high degree of professionalism in communication, attitude and teamwork with customers, peers and management.
• Adhere to all local, federal and state laws in addition to Company policies, procedures, and practices.
• Performs any other duties that may be assigned by management.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly rate.
• Merchandise discount: 50% off of Exclusive Brands and 40% off of third-party brands.
• Paid Time Off plan for year-round Boot Barn Partners.
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.
• 401(k) plan with generous company matching.
• Flexible schedules and work/life balance.
• Opportunities for growth at every level – we are opening 50+ new stores each year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level