Design Manager, Footwear Performance - W/M

Design Manager, Footwear Performance - W/M

Amer Sports is a sporting goods company with internationally recognized brands including Salomon, Arc'teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic and Wilson.

“The Mountain Sport Company”, Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Salomon's commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in bindings, boots, skis and apparel for both Alpine and Nordic skiing and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for snowboarding, adventure racing, mountaineering, hiking, trail running, and many other sports.

Through performance driven design, Salomon delivers innovation and progression to mountain sports; converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility. Salomon's heritage, culture, and commitment are tied together by one simple concept: the world's leading mountain people creating the world's leading mountain products. Salomon is responsibly committed towards the outdoor through its sustainability program. Diversity is one of Salomon's five values, therefore we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.

Salomon is headquartered in Annecy, France.

Job Description

Are you a Footwear Designer who thrives when working with technical, performance-driven products? Do you enjoy transforming real user needs from the running, hiking, and trail worlds into innovative design solutions? Is technicality, functionality, and performance what drives your creative approach? And do you have proven experience leading and inspiring a creative design team?

Then join our Softgoods team and help shape the Footwear Performance vision.

Your role:

As Footwear Design Manager W/M, you define, embody, and lead the Design strategy for the Performance perimeter. You are the guardian of the creative vision, the artistic direction, and the overall consistency of our Footwear collections. You manage and develop a design team split between Annecy and Paris, within a highly international and fast-evolving creative environment.

Your Responsibilities

• Define & Lead the Design Strategy
  • Build and drive a clear, inspiring, and differentiating Design vision.
  • Ensure creative coherence and brand expression across all Footwear projects.
  • Translate business needs and market insights into structured design directions

• Drive the Creative Process

  • In close collaboration with the Offer Manager:

  • Contribute to the creation of briefs (concepts, innovations, products).

  • Define required resources: planning, budget, and designer allocation.
  • Organize and lead Design validation sessions.
  • Guide and challenge teams on 2D/3D concepts and color proposals.

• Define & Embody the Artistic Direction

  • Establish creative guidelines: shapes, colors, materials, graphics, branding.
  • Inspire teams through trends, cultural insights, and usage-driven influences.
  • Ensure both short-term and long-term artistic vision.

• Deploy & Evolve the Design Strategy

  • Oversee the evolution of Footwear lines and ensure stylistic consistency.
  • Collaborate with 3D and CMF teams.
  • Promote the adoption of modern tools: AI, digital design, innovative workflows.

• Lead & Develop the Design Team

  • Set direction, define priorities, and support individual objectives.
  • Create the conditions for success, encourage initiative and experimentation.
  • Provide regular feedback, develop skills, and elevate talent within the team.
  • Work in synergy with all Softgoods teams to ensure alignment and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Design (Bac +5) preferred.
• Professional Experience
  • 10 years of professional experience in footwear product design and development.
  • Strong understanding of contemporary design, market dynamics, consumer needs, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Knowledge in technical design and performance-driven product
  • Natural connection to the running, hiking, and trail universes.
  • Understand the codes, usage contexts, and needs of athletic practice.
  • Feel comfortable in an environment where technicality, functionality, and performance are central.
• Core Competencies
  • Managerial Skills
    • Proven experience in direct management of creative teams.
    • Ability to support and mentor designers with diverse levels of seniority.
• Digital Transformation & Innovative Mindset
  • Strong appetite for modern design tools, digital workflows, and innovative design methodologies.
• Languages: Fluent English is mandatory.
• Tools
  • Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Strong command of Design software (2D/3D).

Additional Information

• Contract: Permanent position (Full-time)

• Location: Role based in Annecy

• Travel Requirements: Ability to travel to our manufacturing sites in Asia, to key markets (Asia, US, Europe)