Vans: Designer, Footwear, Womens and Kids SMU

Vans • Costa Mesa, CA

6d • $82,080 - $102,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next? Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you. To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com . What will you do? A day in the life of a Designer, Lifestyle Footwear, Women's & Kid's SMU at Vans looks a little like this. This role sits within the Footwear Design team, focusing on Women’s Lifestyle and Kids SMU categories for the Americas region. The position collaborates closely with Product Development and Merchandising team to deliver innovative and trend-right designs. At its core, this role is responsible for creating compelling footwear concepts and collections, including seasonal graphics, color strategies, and SMU executions. From initial sketches and CADs to tech packs and material selections, this designer ensures that every product aligns with brand vision and consumer expectations. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Women’s Lifestyle Footwear Design, this position plays a key role in translating merchandise briefs into market-ready designs that balance creativity, functionality, and brand DNA. Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or related field.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and ideally 3D design tools (e.g., Rhino, KeyShot, or similar) for rendering footwear concepts and creating tech packs.
• Ability to identify emerging footwear trends and translate them into fresh, innovative design ideas that align with Vans’ brand DNA.
• Strong knowledge of footwear design processes, including material selection, color strategy, construction techniques, and tech pack creation.
• Ability to design within seasonal stories and collaborate effectively in a team environment to ensure cohesive product assortments.
• Comfortable managing fast-paced footwear design workload, meeting tight deadlines and seasonal calendar milestones.
• Exceptional multi-tasking, communication, and organizational skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with cross-functional partners, including Development, Merchandising, and Color/Materials teams.
• Location requirement: Hybrid schedule in-office in Costa Mesa, CA.

Responsibilities

• Use your design skills to create footwear concepts that are original, iconic, unique, and innovative, aligning with Vans’ creative vision and brand culture.
• Adhere to the Vans footwear design process and seasonal direction for Women’s Lifestyle and Kids SMU categories.
• Partner with your Manager and Merchandising on all footwear designs to ensure consistency and alignment with project briefs.
• Create accurate and detailed footwear tech packs for development to ensure proper execution of designs.
• Communicate and collaborate cross-functionally with Footwear Development, Color/Materials, and Product Management teams.
• Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by cooperating with cross-functional partners throughout the design process.
• Establish clear and effective communication with management, team members, and external partners as needed.
• Manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment where challenging timelines are the norm.
• Adhere to all seasonal calendar deadlines and deliverables.

Benefits

• 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).
• We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity.
• Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees