Footwear Designer

Gina Group LLC•New York, NY

12h•$65,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Gina Group is seeking a Senior Designer to join its footwear team. The role offers the opportunity to work as part of an energetic, creative, and collaborative group, designing footwear collections and contributing to the department’s development season after season. The designer owns assigned brands based on their aesthetic and creative strengths and works closely with the design director, designers, product development, overseas teams, licensors, and buyers.

Requirements

At least 5 years of footwear experience.
Creative edge and ability to bring new ideas and trends to the table.
Excellent time-management skills.
Excellent project-management skills.
Positive team player.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Proficiency in Illustrator and working knowledge of Photoshop.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong knowledge of customer and buyer expectations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working for a wholesale company managing multiple licenses.

Responsibilities

Own design for assigned brands and create digital CADs for full seasonal collections.
Create and present tech packages with the details needed to communicate designs to the design team and factories.
Manage and oversee the PLM system.
Provide design direction and collaborate with the design team; prepare sample requests and review, critique, test, and approve submitted samples according to product, color, and material standards.
Research trends and the market, bring ideas to weekly meetings, and inspire other members of the design team.
Work with the design director, exercising creative freedom throughout the process.
Communicate with overseas teams to resolve technical or timing issues.
Collaborate professionally with product development to ensure products are produced as envisioned.
Design primarily in Illustrator, with minimal retouching in Photoshop.
Regularly bring new ideas and concepts to the team.
Adjust product styling or functionality in response to feedback from in-house product testing.
Assist in creating pitches for current and new licenses.
Present and participate in meetings with licensors and buyers.
Conduct comp and store shopping to monitor the competitive landscape and identify opportunities for product differentiation and innovation.
Use available resources, including WGSN and RVCF, to stay current on forward trends.
Maintain the seasonal development calendar.
Perform other related duties assigned by management to support the department’s business needs.
Understand and follow Gina’s employee policies and procedures.