Sr. Director, Footwear Product Development

About the Role
The Senior Director, Footwear Product Development provides strategic leadership for the footwear product development organization and oversees the end-to-end product creation process across
multiple categories.
This leader partners with Design, Engineering, Merchandising, Materials, Costing, Sourcing, Quality, and global manufacturing partners to deliver innovative, high-performing footwear that meets brand, consumer, quality, cost, margin, and timing objectives.
You’ll Make a Difference By
Leading the end-to-end footwear product development process from concept through commercialization.
Overseeing seasonal development calendars, priorities, resources, and critical milestones across multiple footwear categories.
Translating brand and product strategies into innovative, commercially viable, and manufacturable footwear.
Partnering cross-functionally to ensure product performance, fit, quality, aesthetics, construction, testing, costing, and margin targets are achieved.
Leading innovation initiatives, including new materials, technologies, construction methods, manufacturing capabilities, and product solutions.
Partnering with global sourcing to evaluate supplier capabilities, factory selection, quality, capacity, cost, and commercialization readiness.
Establishing and improving product development processes, standards, tools, and best practices to improve speed, efficiency, quality, and execution.
Identifying and resolving product development risks related to technical feasibility, materials, testing, cost, factory capability, and timelines.
Building strong relationships with global factories, suppliers, and cross functional business partners.
Leading, coaching, and developing the Footwear Product Development team; supporting recruiting, performance management, succession planning, and organizational development.
Driving a high-performance, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
Providing strategic recommendations to senior leadership and influencing decisions that support product, brand, and business objectives.
Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs.
About You
10+ years of progressive footwear product development experience, with 3–5+ years of leadership experience.
Strong knowledge of footwear construction, materials, fit, testing, costing and manufacturing.
Proven experience developing innovative footwear products across multiple categories.
Demonstrated ability to balance product performance, consumer needs, innovation, cost, margin, quality, and speed to market.
Experience working with international footwear factories, suppliers, and sourcing teams.
Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and business skills.
Excellent cross-functional leadership, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
Proven ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams.
Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Proficiency with standard business and product-development tools and systems.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.
About Ariat
Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.
The salary range for this position is $185,000 - $195,000 per year.
The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
401(k) with company match
Bonus incentive plans
Team member discount on Ariat merchandise
Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email [email protected].

Skills
Negotiation, Sourcing

Experience
10+ yrs

Employment type
Full Time