Design Director, Men's Footwear

Tecovas•Austin, TX

1d•$150,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

Tecovas is seeking a Senior Designer, Men's Footwear to lead the design of the next generation of Western footwear. This role involves taking products from concept to commercialization, balancing heritage craftsmanship with modern innovation to ensure every style embodies the Tecovas brand. The position reports directly to the Head of Product and will influence the future of the category through exceptional design, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of construction, materials, fit, and storytelling. This role requires the candidate to be based in Austin, TX, or willing to relocate.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
8+ years of footwear design experience, preferably within premium footwear, Western, outdoor, work, or lifestyle brands.
Demonstrated experience designing technically sound, commercially successful footwear collections.
Strong understanding of footwear construction, patterning, fit, materials, leather, components, and manufacturing processes.
Exceptional sketching, concept development, rendering, and storytelling abilities.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop
Experience partnering directly with overseas factories and suppliers throughout the product development process.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience leading or mentoring designers is preferred.
You have a deep appreciation for Western craftsmanship and are passionate about preserving and evolving the category.
You balance creativity with commercial thinking, designing products customers love while achieving business objectives.
You are a natural mentor who enjoys developing talent and helping others reach their potential.
You bring curiosity and a constant desire to explore new ideas, materials, construction techniques, and product innovation.
You have exceptional attention to detail and hold yourself and others to a high standard of product excellence.
You are customer obsessed and consistently advocate for the end consumer throughout the design process.
You build strong cross-functional relationships and thrive in a collaborative environment.
You communicate ideas clearly, welcome diverse perspectives, and are open to thoughtful feedback.
You are energized by fast-paced environments and enjoy turning great ideas into exceptional products.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of Tecovas Men's Footwear from concept through commercialization, ensuring every product reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, authenticity, and quality.
Drive seasonal design direction by identifying new opportunities across Western, work, and adjacent footwear categories while evolving our iconic franchises.
Lead all aspects of the design process, ensuring deliverables are met for seasonal milestone meetings, prototype reviews, line freeze, and production deadlines.
Conduct seasonal research through market analysis, trend exploration, competitive shopping, consumer insights, and historical brand references to inspire new product concepts.
Create innovative footwear concepts through sketching, digital rendering, prototyping, and close partnership with Product Development and Sourcing.
Partner with Merchandising to translate consumer insights, business objectives, and assortment strategies into compelling product solutions.
Collaborate with Product Development, Materials, and Sourcing to identify new leathers, constructions, components, finishes, and manufacturing techniques that elevate the product.
Own color, material, leather, hardware, and construction direction for seasonal collections while ensuring cohesion across the broader product assortment.
Build and maintain accurate design specifications, BOMs, and PLM data throughout the development process.
Participate in prototype reviews, wear testing, fit evaluations, and commercialization meetings, providing thoughtful design direction throughout the product lifecycle.
Mentor and develop the Footwear Designer through regular coaching, constructive feedback, and meaningful development opportunities, helping build the next generation of design talent.
Partner closely with Apparel and Accessories Design to create cohesive seasonal stories, color direction, and brand-right product collections.
Manage freelance or external design resources as needed.
Travel domestically and internationally for inspirational research, factory visits, supplier meetings, leather development, and product reviews.