Manages, mentors, and provides design direction to a team of Footwear Designers for the purpose of creating innovative, leading edge product relevant to the Reef market. Establish control-related standards and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Consults with VP of Products to determine and oversee each season’s style direction, color direction, project lineup, and assignment of projects to individual designers for the purpose of creating a consistent design direction for footwear and equipment for the brand on a global basis.
• Organizes and facilitates design review meetings with the entire team (usually 3 – 4 times per season) for the purpose of checking project status, allowing the entire team to observe each other’s concepts, and encourage constructive criticism.
• Provides designers insight and design direction for their specific projects.
• Manages trend service subscription and coordinates usage by design team.
• Partners with Category Directors/Designers to organize/plan market research and design inspiration trips.
• Provides design solutions for specific projects in any category.
• Maintains a winning design team by promoting mentorship, respect, and creativity of design staff and acts as a liaison between the design team and upper management.
• Oversees the sample making process by representing the designer’s styling intentions, and intervening with modifications as needed.
• Provides direction and design for advanced concepts and technologies along with staying current to global market trends.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Years of Related Professional Experience: 7-10 years.
• A combination of a minimum of 7 years related professional experience and a Bachelor’s Degree (BA) or equivalent from an accredited design college; or a minimum of 10 years related experience.

Skills:

• Proficient with computer software as it applies to current design industry standards
• Excellent technical design ability (last knowledge/pattern correction expertise/blueprint and mold correction expertise, etc.)
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret design briefs, trend forecasting and research documentation, technical documentation, and strategic planning analysis
• Ability to develop long-term plans and programs and to evaluate work accomplishments
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem solving skills
• Excellent creative insight

Special Requirements:

• Periodic travel required (approx. 20%)
• Willing and able to work additional hours when needed
• Bend, lift, open and move product and related office items varying in weight
  from 1 to 25lbs, depending on need

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