Product Development Manager, Footwear

American Exchange Group • New York, NY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Footwear Product Development Manager leads the development and commercialization of high-volume, cost-driven footwear programs for mass market and off-price channels. This role is responsible for executing product that meets aggressive price points, rapid timelines, and retailer-specific requirements, while maintaining quality and brand integrity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Product Development, or related field
• 5–8+ years of footwear product development experience, preferably in mass market or off-price
• Strong understanding of cost-driven product development and high-volume production
• Experience working with major retailers (e.g., Walmart Retail Link, Kohl’s DSCO, JCP CommerceHub)
• Proven ability to manage multiple seasons and high SKU counts simultaneously
• Deep experience with overseas factory communication and negotiation
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in PLM/ERP systems

Nice To Haves

• Experience in private label or licensed brands
• Background supporting off-price retailers (e.g., TJX, Ross, Burlington)
• Familiarity with packaging optimization and freight cost considerations
• Experience with chase/reorder business models

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development of footwear collections across mass and off-price channels
• Execute against fast-paced seasonal and chase calendars with a strong sense of urgency
• Drive speed-to-market while maintaining accuracy and quality
• Develop product aligned to specific retailer needs (e.g., Walmart, Kohl’s, JCPenney, off-price accounts)
• Ensure compliance with retailer systems, packaging, labeling, and routing requirements
• Adapt product assortments based on retailer price architecture and target customer
• Own costing process with a strong focus on hitting aggressive IMU targets
• Engineer product to cost—materials, construction, and design simplification
• Negotiate with factories to achieve best cost without sacrificing required quality standards
• Partner closely with overseas factories (primarily Asia) on development and execution
• Manage multiple vendors to support capacity, speed, and cost competitiveness
• Troubleshoot development and production issues quickly to avoid delays
• Maintain and enforce development calendars with clear milestone tracking
• Ensure all tech packs, specs, and approvals are production-ready and on time
• Partner with Production/Operations to ensure smooth handoff to bulk
• Oversee high-volume sample tracking for line reviews, buyer meetings, and approvals
• Manage revisions efficiently to minimize development cycles
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry in PLM/ERP systems
• Work closely with Design to interpret trends into commercial, cost-effective product
• Partner with Sales and Merchandising on line plans, pricing strategy, and retailer presentations
• Collaborate with QA and Compliance teams to meet testing and regulatory standards

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees