Men's Footwear Designer II - Genesco Brands Group

Genesco • Nashville, TN

3d

About The Position

The Footwear Designer will join the Genesco Branded Group’s Design Team and report to the SVP of Design, contributing to the creation of commercial, brand-relevant footwear for Wrangler and Dockers, as well as other brands and private label programs within the portfolio. This role is ideal for a designer with a strong point of view in the design of men’s focused western-inspired and outdoor-influenced footwear, as well as a strong appreciation for workwear, utility, durability, and authentic constructions as they relate to modern consumer needs. Working collaboratively with product development and cross-functional partners, the designer will design and develop product concepts that align with each brand’s lifestyle positioning, target consumer, and market opportunity. The position requires hands-on involvement throughout the design process—from concept and trend research through execution—with a particular emphasis on men’s boots, rugged casual footwear, and outdoor-oriented constructions that balance function, comfort, and commercial viability across a range of categories.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in footwear design.
• Must have a strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite – Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Ability to create mechanical drawings and read blueprints.
• Must have working knowledge of duty rates of footwear, aiding in material selections in hitting pricing objectives.
• Must be proficient in creating line art and color cads in Illustrator.
• Working knowledge of Macintosh systems, Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook, and PLM.
• Must have traditional hands-on footwear development skills – Proto corrections, materials, tech packs, specs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Energetic, inspiring, creative, forward-thinking, and enthusiastic about design.
• Self-motivated and equally comfortable working within a team – must be a team player.
• Organized, structured, asks questions, and seeks understanding first.
• Pushes oneself to exceed expectations.
• Excels at being adaptable, versatile, and able to work under pressure.
• Ability to work under deadlines, manage multiple priorities, work independently, take initiative, and pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities and fast track projects as needed.
• Strong knowledge of fashion and market trends with an understanding of each brands market position and the drive to evolve it.
• Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the SVP of Design, the Footwear Designer will design and develop products that are industry leading, brand relevant, and commercial.
• Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to create market relevant products across multiple categories, ensuring integrity with respect to last, upper, and model development.
• Execute the complete vision, including Color/Cads and Materials, along with fully completed tech packs.
• Deliver on-time product solutions in conjunction with the Product Development calendar and varying business needs, ensuring that all deadlines, line plans, and deliverables are met.
• Provide and present timely and relevant business, design, consumer, and cultural storytelling in conjunction with specific projects and briefs.
• Study and research current and future trends; maintain expert knowledge in design trends, production techniques, and new technologies.
• Special projects as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees