Director Materials & Product Development-HYBRID

Designer Brands Inc.•New York, NY

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

At Designer Brands, we’re passionate about bringing great design to life in a way that resonates with customers and stands the test of time. As the Director, Materials and Product Development, you will play a critical role in turning creative vision into products that are not only beautiful, but also practical, high-quality, and ready for the real world. This role sits at the center of design, sourcing, and production—connecting ideas to execution. You’ll lead the development of materials and product strategies across the lifecycle, helping teams make smart decisions that balance creativity, cost, quality, and sustainability. Your work will shape how our products come to life season after season. This position is HYBRID to our NYC office.

Requirements

Excellent technical knowledge of leather and materials, constructions, and finishing
Strong understanding of footwear or product construction and manufacturing processes
Solid grasp of cost engineering, margin drivers, and commercialization requirements
Proven ability to lead cross-functional materials and product development teams
Experience influencing stakeholders across functions and at senior levels
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Ability to translate creative design intent into practical, executable solutions
Process-oriented mindset with experience driving standardization and continuous improvement
8–10+ years of experience in leathers, materials research and development, and product development
Direct experience working with global vendors and manufacturing partners, including Asia
3–5+ years of people leadership experience
Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Engineering, Textile Science, Fashion Design, or a related field, or equivalent work experience

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating sustainability initiatives into material and product development
Footwear, apparel, or accessories industry background
Exposure to digital material libraries, PLM systems, or 3D development tools

Responsibilities

Lead materials and product development initiatives from concept through preproduction, ensuring alignment with brand DNA, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery timelines
Manage the full lifecycle of development, balancing design intent with manufacturability and scalability
Establish and maintain development calendars, milestone tracking, and sample management processes to support on-time execution
Partner with Design to translate creative vision into technically feasible products and material solutions
Guide teams in evaluating construction methods, performance needs, and aesthetic expectations
Build and maintain global footwear materials and embellishment toolboxes in partnership with cross-functional teams
Oversee research, development, selection, and commercialization of materials, including leathers, textiles, synthetics, trims, and embellishments
Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and consumer insights to inform product and materials direction
Explore opportunities to enhance product through innovation and evolving material capabilities
Educate and support teams in understanding cost drivers, manufacturability, and margin implications early in development
Ensure accurate, complete, and production-ready product and material documentation
Collaborate with Global Sourcing and Production teams to align on vendor capabilities and ensure smooth transition to bulk production
Build strong vendor relationships to support feasibility reviews, technical problem-solving, and continuous improvement
Lead and develop a team (3–7 direct reports), fostering collaboration, accountability, and growth
Partner across functions and with senior leadership to influence decisions and drive aligned outcomes