Vans: Senior Director, Footwear Design

Senior Director, Footwear Design

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live "Off The Wall" – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday's "Off The Wall" moment is today's new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.

A day in the life of a Senior Director, Footwear Design at Vans looks a little like this.

The Senior Director, Footwear Design operates within the Global Footwear Design team, supporting Vans' Global team and influencing seasonal direction. This role partners closely with Product Merchants, Development, and other Design leaders to ensure cohesive seasonal strategies and commercially viable products. The Senior Director leads the creative vision and execution for footwear collections, driving innovation, brand integrity, and consumer relevance while meeting financial and margin targets. In addition, this role will lead and develop a team of footwear designers, fostering creativity and collaboration to deliver best-in-class design solutions. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Footwear Design and Innovation.

Let's break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Lead the seasonal footwear design vision by translating brand strategy into innovative, consumer-relevant collections that meet financial and margin targets.
• Drive concept development and execution of new models, technologies, and advanced materials, ensuring designs are functional, feasible, and commercially viable.
• Oversee creation of high-quality design packages including sketches, tech specs, colorways, and presentation tools for internal reviews and go-to-market meetings.
• Manage and mentor a team of designers (in-house and external), fostering creativity, collaboration, and accountability while meeting corporate timelines.
• Ensure brand integrity and consistency across all footwear categories through design language, trims, and storytelling that reinforce Vans' identity.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product Merchants, Development, Sourcing, and Costing teams to align on briefs, meet margin requirements, and deliver market-ready products.
• Monitor and optimize design process to meet KPIs including gross margin, complexity, and timely delivery, while supporting advanced concept integration.
• Collaborate with other design leaders to maintain cohesive seasonal direction and share best practices across categories.

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you'll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 12+ years of experience and professional achievements.

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Product Design, or a related field required.

Master's degree in Design, Business, or Innovation is a plus.

Proven footwear design expertise with deep knowledge of materials, construction techniques, and manufacturing processes.

Strategic design leadership experience, 12+ years in footwear design with a track record of leading teams and delivering innovative, market-relevant products.

Strong trend awareness and ability to translate consumer insights, cultural movements, and global fashion trends into compelling design solutions.

Creative vision and storytelling skills to develop brand-right concepts that resonate with consumers and reinforce Vans' identity.

Technical proficiency in design tools and platforms (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, PLM systems) and ability to produce accurate tech packages.

Cross-functional collaboration skills to partner effectively with Product Merchants, Development, Sourcing, and Costing teams.

Business acumen with understanding of costing, target margins, and commercial viability to ensure designs meet financial objectives.

Mentorship and team development experience to inspire creativity and foster growth within a diverse design team.

Strong presentation and storytelling skills for internal and external audiences.

Ability to influence and align multiple stakeholders across design, product, and development teams.

Experience managing complex design calendars and driving process improvements.

Location requirement: Hybrid schedule in-office in Costa Mesa, CA.

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.

Experience working with global brands and understanding regional market nuances.

Background in integrating advanced concepts and emerging technologies into footwear design.

Familiarity with sustainable design practices and innovative material sourcing.

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

Hiring Range: $221,011.20 USD - $276,264.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Long-Term Incentive Potential: This position is eligible to participate in a Long-Term Incentive Plan. Specific details of the plan will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at peopleservices@vfc.com. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.