Director of Design, Men's Footwear - Johnston & Murphy

The Ideal Candidate

The Design Director is a key leadership position responsible for shaping the long-term growth, profitability, and strategic direction of the Johnston & Murphy men's footwear business. The position oversees all aspects of product design for men's footwear, ensuring alignment with current business priorities and future brand strategy. A highly creative and collaborative leader, this role directs and develops a team of designers while working closely with Product Line Management and Development, as well as cross-functional partners including Retail and Wholesale merchandising, Marketing, and Supply Chain, to deliver cohesive and successful men's footwear.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Partner with the Product Line Manager to define the strategic and creative vision for the men's footwear line each season.
• Foster a performance-driven culture that inspires a team commitment to consumer-focused, innovative, and market-relevant footwear solutions.
• Lead the development of seasonal design direction informed by consumer insights, fashion forecasts, and market trends, from initial inspiration through final selling tools.
• Oversee all phases of the product creation process-from concept development through commercialization handoff-ensuring timely execution and delivery.
• Maintain a cohesive product assortment by balancing synergy and differentiation across the line, while managing an effective mix of core and seasonal "energy" product.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships with retail and wholesale teams, as well as the apparel and accessories team, to ensure alignment on seasonal objectives and execution strategies.
• Guide and support the selection of seasonal lasts, materials, components, and color palettes to meet design, performance, and commercial goals.
• Lead innovation across product design and development-advancing comfort technologies and construction-while continuously improving team processes and ways of working.

Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field of study.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in men's fashion footwear design and development.
• Proven expertise managing the end-to-end product creation lifecycle, including product briefs, ideation, design execution, technical packages, cost management, prototyping, and overseas development.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of modern footwear manufacturing methods, with the ability to oversee and direct all design and development processes.
• Highly creative with a passion for fashion design and deep understanding leather, textiles, components, and color concepts.
• Demonstrated success building effective partnerships across an organization, with factory partners, and with suppliers.
• Experience leading a footwear design teams, balancing structured process management with a creative culture that encourages innovation and new ideas.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills with the ability to adapt quickly and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong blend of analytical, decision-making, and creative problem solving skills.
• Domestic and international travel required.