Design Manager, Footwear Sportstyle - H/F

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager, Footwear Sportstyle - H/F

Company: Salomon

Location: Paris, France

Job Type: Full-time (Temps complet)

Category: Design & Product Development (Sportstyle Footwear)

Date Posted: September 11, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and define the strategic design vision for the Sportstyle footwear category, ensuring brand coherence and market relevance.

• Manage and develop a geographically dispersed creative design team across Annecy and Paris, fostering an innovative and collaborative environment.

• Oversee the end-to-end product creation process, from conceptualization and ideation to final design validation, working closely with product merchandising and development teams.

• Drive artistic direction by translating brand guidelines, market trends, and consumer insights into compelling footwear aesthetics, including forms, colors, materials, and branding.

• Champion the integration of modern design tools and workflows, including digital design, AI, and innovative processes to enhance efficiency and creativity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for the Sportstyle footwear category, emphasizing a blend of urban style, sports lifestyle, and sneaker culture, while maintaining a connection to technical outdoor performance. The "H/F" designation indicates the role is open to candidates of any gender. The "Softgoods" team context suggests a focus on apparel and footwear design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and Drive Design Strategy:

  • Construct and champion a clear, inspiring, and differentiating design vision for the Sportstyle footwear range.
  • Ensure creative consistency and brand expression across all footwear projects and collections.
  • Translate business objectives and market insights into structured design directions and product concepts.

• Manage the Creative Process:

  • Collaborate closely with the Head of Offering to develop briefs for concepts, innovations, and products.
  • Define and allocate necessary resources, including planning, budget, and designer assignments.
  • Organize and facilitate design validation meetings and decision-making processes.
  • Challenge and guide design teams on 2D/3D creations and color proposals, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.

• Shape and Embody Artistic Direction:

  • Translate core design principles, including shapes, colors, materials, graphics, and branding, into tangible product designs.
  • Inspire design teams by staying abreast of emerging trends, user behaviors, and cultural influences in fashion, sport, and outdoor.
  • Maintain a strong artistic vision for both short-term collection launches and long-term brand evolution.

• Evolve Design Strategy and Integration:

  • Oversee the stylistic evolution of footwear lines and ensure their overall aesthetic coherence.
  • Collaborate effectively with 3D design and CMF (Color, Material, Finish) teams to realize design visions.
  • Encourage the adoption and integration of modern design tools and workflows, such as AI, digital design applications, and innovative workflow methodologies.

• Lead and Develop the Design Team:

  • Provide clear direction, set priorities, and support individual designer objectives and career development.

  • Create an environment conducive to success, encouraging initiative-taking and experimentation within the design team.

  • Deliver regular feedback, foster skill development, and recognize talent within the team.

  • Ensure synergistic collaboration with all Softgoods teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic leadership role focused on vision, team management, and process oversight, rather than purely hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "multisite Paris/Annecy" management and collaboration with factories and fashion weeks indicates a significant scope and international exposure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Design is appreciated (Bac+5).

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in footwear product design and development.

• Proven track record in managing and developing creative teams, ideally in a multi-site environment.

• Deep understanding of current design trends, target market needs, consumer attitudes, and behaviors. Required Skills:

• Management & Leadership:

  • Direct experience managing creative teams.
  • Ability to coach and develop designers with diverse experience levels.
  • Proficiency in managing teams across different locations (Paris/Annecy).

• Strategic Vision & Planning:

  • Ability to define and articulate a clear design strategy.
  • Strong understanding of business needs and market dynamics.

• Design Expertise:

  • Keen sense for urban aesthetics, sports lifestyle, and sneaker culture.
  • Ability to bridge fashion, sport, collaborations, and street trends.
  • Understanding of technical aspects relevant to footwear performance.

• Digital Transformation & Innovation Mindset:

  • Openness to and experience with integrating modern design tools and digital workflows.

• Communication:

  • Fluent English is essential for international collaboration. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CMF (Color, Material, Finish) design.

• Familiarity with 3D design software relevant to footwear.

• Exposure to international fashion weeks and global market travel.

• Understanding of sustainability principles in product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a specific degree is appreciated, the emphasis is strongly on extensive practical experience in footwear design and proven leadership capabilities. Fluency in English is a critical requirement for this international role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable examples of footwear design strategy development and execution for lifestyle or sportstyle categories.

• Case studies showcasing successful product launches, highlighting market impact, consumer reception, and design innovation.

• Evidence of managing and mentoring design teams, including team structure, workflow optimization, and talent development initiatives.

• Examples of translating trend research and consumer insights into cohesive collection concepts and product lines.

• Documentation of cross-functional collaboration, particularly with product merchandising, development, and marketing teams. Process Documentation:

• Showcase experience in defining and implementing design workflows, from initial concept ideation to final product specification.

• Provide examples of how you have integrated new technologies or methodologies (e.g., digital design tools, AI) to improve design processes and efficiency.

• Illustrate your approach to design validation, feedback loops, and decision-making within a creative team structure.

• Examples of managing design project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to present a portfolio that not only showcases aesthetic talent but also strategic thinking, leadership acumen, and process management capabilities relevant to managing a design function within a global sports brand.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimate: €70,000 - €100,000 per year (gross)

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Design Manager roles with 10+ years of experience in Paris, France, within the sporting goods and apparel sector. Factors considered include the seniority of the role, management responsibilities, the company's market position (Salomon is a leading global brand), and the cost of living in Paris. This range may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary.

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Opportunities for professional development and training, including workshops and potential industry conferences.

• Employee discounts on Salomon products.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Travel opportunities to global markets, factories (Asia), and major industry events like Fashion Week.

• Participation in a dynamic and innovative international work environment. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available.

• The role requires availability for travel, which may involve extended hours and weekend work during specific periods (e.g., Fashion Week, factory visits).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for the Paris market. Specific benefits can vary and should be confirmed directly with Salomon. The role's international travel component is a significant aspect of the compensation package, offering unique experiences.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sporting Goods & Outdoor Apparel/Footwear. Salomon is a key player in the global market, known for its innovation in mountain sports.

Company Size: Part of Amer Sports, a large global sports equipment company (Salomon itself has a significant presence). This implies a structured corporate environment with resources, alongside the agility of a specialized brand.

Founded: Salomon was founded in 1947, giving it a rich heritage in alpine sports and a strong legacy of innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager will lead a team of designers split between the headquarters in Annecy and the new Paris Hub.

• This role requires strong collaboration with the Head of Offering and other Softgoods teams.

• The position operates within a global, international creative environment. Methodology:

• Emphasis on translating market insights and business needs into structured design directions.

• Focus on innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in footwear design.

• Commitment to sustainability and responsible outdoor practices.

• A culture that values diversity and aims to create an accessible environment for all employees.

Company Website: https://www.salomon.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Salomon's culture is deeply rooted in mountain sports and innovation, but the Sportstyle category and Paris Hub introduction suggest a growing emphasis on urban lifestyle, fashion, and contemporary trends. The dual-location team management is a key cultural and logistical consideration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior management position, overseeing a critical creative function within the Sportstyle division. It represents a significant step in a design career, moving from individual contributor or lead designer to a managerial role with strategic influence.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will report to a higher-level Head of Offering or similar executive within the Softgoods or Design department. They will directly manage a team of footwear designers.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager's work directly influences product desirability, brand perception, market competitiveness, and ultimately, revenue generation for the Sportstyle footwear category. Strategic design decisions can shape the future direction of the brand's lifestyle offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in footwear design strategy and brand building within the Sportstyle segment.

• Leadership: Progress to higher leadership roles within the global design organization, potentially overseeing multiple categories or broader design functions.

• Cross-Functional: Transition into roles in product merchandising, brand management, or innovation strategy.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to lead digital transformation initiatives within design, gain exposure to global market dynamics, and engage with high-profile collaborations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career advancement within Salomon and the broader Amer Sports organization, particularly for individuals passionate about bridging technical performance with contemporary lifestyle and fashion trends.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a new "Paris Hub," suggesting a modern, potentially collaborative workspace designed to attract creative talent. The presence of offices in Annecy indicates a connection to the company's mountain sports heritage.

Office Location(s): Paris, France, and Annecy, France (for team management). Travel to manufacturing sites in Asia and international markets is also a key component.

Workspace Context:

• A dynamic, international, and fast-paced creative environment.

• Collaboration is key, requiring strong communication across different teams, locations, and potentially cultures.

• Exposure to cutting-edge design tools and methodologies is encouraged.

• The role involves significant travel, requiring adaptability and a willingness to work in various settings.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines, attend global events (like Fashion Week), and manage international team communications across time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Paris Hub signifies Salomon's commitment to expanding its presence in fashion-forward urban centers, blending its outdoor roots with contemporary lifestyle influences.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition review of CV and cover letter, assessing alignment with core requirements (experience, management, English fluency).

2. Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on strategic vision, leadership style, experience in footwear design, and understanding of the Sportstyle market.

3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, showcasing specific footwear design projects, strategic thinking, and team management examples. This is a critical stage to assess creative direction and process.

4. Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., Head of Offering, Product Development leads) to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of the product lifecycle, and ability to integrate design with business objectives.

5. Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment with Salomon's broader goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio to tell a story about your design philosophy, strategic approach, and impact. Don't just show pretty pictures; explain the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Management Focus: Include examples that demonstrate your leadership capabilities. This could be team structure, workflow optimization, mentoring initiatives, or successful team-led projects.

• Sportstyle Relevance: Clearly highlight footwear projects relevant to the Sportstyle category, demonstrating your understanding of urban aesthetics, sneaker culture, and lifestyle trends.

• Process & Problem-Solving: Showcase how you approach design challenges, translate briefs, manage feedback, and integrate new technologies or sustainable practices.

• Quantitative Impact: Where possible, quantify the impact of your design work (e.g., sales performance, market reception, efficiency gains).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would define the design strategy for a specific Sportstyle footwear segment.

• Anticipate questions about managing a remote/multisite team and fostering creativity across different locations.

• Think about how you would integrate emerging trends (e.g., sustainability, AI) into the footwear design process.

• Prepare specific examples of how you have successfully collaborated with product, marketing, and development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates must clearly articulate their strategic vision, leadership capabilities, and understanding of the Sportstyle market, supported by concrete examples.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design software for footwear design (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator).

• 3D Design Software: Experience with 3D modeling and rendering tools relevant to footwear design (e.g., CLO3D, Browzwear, Rhino, Gravity Sketch) is highly desirable.

• CMF Tools: Familiarity with tools and processes for defining Color, Material, and Finish specifications.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how to interpret market data, consumer insights, and sales reports to inform design strategy is crucial.

• Familiarity with trend forecasting platforms and tools. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design management function, but an understanding of how design feeds into product lifecycle management (PLM) systems is beneficial.

• Openness to leveraging digital workflows and potentially AI-driven tools for design ideation and optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Maîtrise des logiciels Design" requirement is broad; candidates should highlight specific footwear design software, especially 3D tools, as this is increasingly becoming standard in the industry.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance & Innovation: A drive to push boundaries and create groundbreaking products, rooted in Salomon's heritage.

• Authenticity: Staying true to the mountain sports ethos while evolving for lifestyle and urban contexts.

• Commitment: Dedication to product excellence, sustainability, and team success.

• Inclusivity: Valuing diversity and creating an accessible environment, as stated in company values.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across teams, locations, and functions to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, requiring strong partnerships with Product Merchandising, Development, Marketing, and potentially Sales teams.

• Emphasis on cross-functional synergy to ensure design vision aligns with business objectives and market realities.

• Open communication and feedback loops are essential, especially given the multi-site team structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of how design contributes to the broader business strategy and how to foster a positive, productive, and inclusive creative culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Heritage and Lifestyle: Effectively blending Salomon's strong mountain sports heritage with the demands of the Sportstyle, urban, and sneaker culture markets.

• Managing a Distributed Team: Leading and inspiring designers located in different cities (Annecy and Paris) while maintaining creative cohesion and workflow efficiency.

• Rapid Trend Cycles: Keeping pace with fast-evolving fashion, street, and sneaker trends while ensuring designs are innovative yet commercially viable.

• Integrating New Technologies: Championing and implementing new digital design tools and AI within a creative team, which may require change management.

• Global Collaboration: Navigating diverse cultural perspectives and time zones when working with international teams, factories, and markets.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Developing advanced skills in design strategy, brand building, and market trend forecasting.

• Digital Design Advancement: Gaining expertise in cutting-edge 3D design software, AI applications, and digital workflow optimization.

• Global Exposure: Immersion in international markets, fashion weeks, and manufacturing processes.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and develop leadership skills within a renowned global brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but offer substantial opportunities for professional growth and skill development in a leading sports brand.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and implement the design strategy for Salomon's Sportstyle footwear category over the next 3-5 years, considering current market trends and brand heritage?"

• "Describe your approach to managing and motivating a creative design team spread across two different locations (Annecy and Paris). What are the key challenges, and how would you overcome them?"

• "Walk us through a footwear concept or collection you developed from ideation to market. What was your strategic input, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Salomon's Sportstyle category, and how do you see it evolving?"

• "How do you ensure a design team embraces company values like innovation, sustainability, and diversity?"

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting opinions or priorities within a design team or with other departments. How did you resolve it?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your most impactful projects that best represent your strategic thinking, leadership, and Sportstyle design expertise.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the strategic rationale behind your design choices, the creative process, and the final outcome (including market reception or business impact if possible).

• Highlight Management: Explicitly point out aspects of your portfolio that demonstrate team management, workflow optimization, or cross-functional collaboration.

• Emphasize Vision: Clearly articulate your design philosophy and how it aligns with Salomon's brand and the Sportstyle market.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your technical process, material choices, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate a clear vision for Sportstyle footwear design at Salomon, demonstrating not only creative talent but also strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the market and team dynamics.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor your Resume: Emphasize your 10+ years of footwear design experience, proven track record in creative team management (especially multi-site), and specific experience within lifestyle, sportstyle, or sneaker culture. Use keywords like "footwear design," "design management," "artistic direction," "trend analysis," "sneaker culture," and "product development."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a strong portfolio that showcases your strategic design thinking, leadership capabilities, and relevant Sportstyle footwear projects. Be ready to present and discuss your work in detail.

• Research Salomon: Familiarize yourself with Salomon's history, current Sportstyle offerings, brand values, and recent initiatives. Understand their position in the market relative to competitors.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare for behavioral and strategic questions related to design leadership, team management, creative process, and market trends. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Salomon before making application decisions.