Design Manager, Footwear

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager, Footwear Company: The Children's Place Location: Secaucus, New Jersey Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design & Development Operations Date Posted: September 30, 2025 Experience Level: 3+ Years (Mid-Level) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversee the end-to-end design process for assigned footwear products, from initial concept through to final prototype.
• Conduct comprehensive market research to identify emerging trends, innovative fabrics, and advanced design techniques relevant to the children's footwear market.
• Develop and execute seasonal design frameworks, ensuring alignment with brand identity, market trends, and overall business strategy for The Children's Place.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Merchandising, Product Development, Production, and Technical Design, to ensure seamless product lifecycle management and successful Go-To-Market execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Design Manager," the provided responsibilities and experience level suggest a strong individual contributor role with significant design oversight rather than direct people management. The focus is heavily on the design execution and cross-functional coordination within the product development operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for assigned footwear categories, encompassing market research, concept ideation, sketching, silhouette development, and fit specification.
• Research competitor markets to identify new trends, innovative fabrics, and advanced design techniques, translating these insights into actionable design concepts.
• Ensure all product designs are consistent with current market trends while rigorously maintaining the unique look, integrity, and vision of The Children's Place brand.
• Concept and execute silhouette, fit, and styling directions that resonate with the target demographic and align with brand aesthetics.
• Create detailed sketches and colorways for assigned categories using Adobe Illustrator, ensuring clarity and precision for development teams.
• Partner closely with the Merchandising Team to establish seasonal frameworks, ensuring creative design ideas are aligned with business goals and strategic objectives.
• Set the seasonal fabric and trim direction, collaborating with Product Development, Production, and R&D teams on quality assurance results and development challenges.
• Define fit standards and provide final fit approval in close collaboration with the Technical Design team to ensure optimal product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain daily communication with Merchandising, Product Development, Production, and Technical Design Teams to proactively address and resolve development issues.
• Adhere strictly to the cross-functional product development calendar and attend all required meetings to ensure timely project progression.
• Travel globally as needed to oversee the sample-making process and ensure design integrity is maintained throughout production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong project management and communication skills, crucial for navigating the complex operations of product development in a retail environment. The emphasis on calendar adherence and cross-functional collaboration is key for successful Go-To-Market operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in footwear design or a similar product design role within the apparel or retail industry, with a demonstrated track record of bringing products from concept to market.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to design around established concepts and translate them into commercially viable products.
• Thorough knowledge of footwear fabrications, construction techniques, silhouettes, color theory, and trim applications.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a strong ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
• Highly developed communication skills, both written and verbal, for clear articulation of design vision and collaboration with diverse teams.
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite, specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, for creating detailed design assets.
• Familiarity with Product Data Management (PDM) systems and Microsoft Office Suite for documentation and workflow management.
• Experience with fit sessions and providing constructive feedback to technical teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the children's footwear market.
• Knowledge of sustainability best practices in footwear design and material sourcing.
• Familiarity with 3D design software for footwear prototyping.
• Experience working with overseas manufacturing partners and managing international development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of creative design expertise and operational execution. Proficiency in Adobe Suite and PDM systems is critical for efficient workflow and data management, aligning with the operational demands of product development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of footwear designs from concept to final product, demonstrating your design process and aesthetic.
• Examples of market research and trend analysis that informed your design decisions.
• Detailed sketches, technical drawings, and colorway explorations for footwear projects.
• Documentation of fit development, including feedback provided to technical teams and revisions made.
• Case studies or project examples that illustrate your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., Merchandising, Product Development, Production).

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding of the product development lifecycle, from initial brainstorming and concept generation through to final sample approval and production hand-off.
• Provide examples of how you have managed design timelines and ensured adherence to production calendars.
• Illustrate your approach to setting fabric, trim, and color direction for seasonal collections.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design-focused operations role like this, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics to demonstrate a structured approach to design execution, cross-functional collaboration, and understanding of the production timeline and constraints.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $50,000.00 - $125,000.00 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Bonus Eligibility: Potential to earn bonuses, depending on role and company performance.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous paid time off for vacation, personal days, and sick leave.
• Employee Discount: Significant discounts on The Children's Place products.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match to support long-term financial planning.
• Wellness Reimbursement: Support for health and wellness activities.
• Adoption Assistance: Financial support for employees pursuing adoption.
• Backup Care: Free access to backup care services for children, pets, and the elderly, promoting work-life balance.
• Health Insurance: Choice of comprehensive health insurance plans.
• Life Insurance: Company-paid life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
• Disability Coverage: Short-term and long-term disability insurance to provide financial security.
• Voluntary Benefits: A variety of additional voluntary benefits to customize coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.

Working Hours:

• Standard Full-Time, approximately 40 hours per week. The role requires flexibility to meet business needs, including potential overtime during peak seasons or to meet critical deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is broad, reflecting potential variations based on candidate experience, specific qualifications, and internal equity. The benefits package is robust, indicating a commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which is attractive for operations professionals seeking stability.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Apparel Retail, specifically focusing on children's clothing and accessories. The Children's Place operates within a highly competitive, fast-paced retail environment that demands agility, trend responsiveness, and strong supply chain operations.

Company Size: The Children's Place is a large enterprise, indicated by its numerous locations and likely extensive employee base. This size suggests established processes, dedicated departments for various operational functions, and opportunities for specialization within roles.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly provided, The Children's Place has a significant history as a major player in the children's apparel market, implying a mature operational infrastructure and a well-defined brand strategy.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is likely part of a larger Product Development or Merchandising division.
• This role operates within a matrixed structure, requiring close collaboration with Merchandising (strategy and assortment planning), Product Development (sourcing, costing, timelines), Production (manufacturing oversight), and Technical Design (fit, quality, specifications).
• The team structure emphasizes cross-functional synergy to bring products to market efficiently and effectively.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is critical, leveraging market research, sales data, and trend forecasting to inform design and merchandising strategies.
• Agile and responsive workflows are essential to adapt to fast-changing fashion trends and consumer demands.
• Emphasis on collaboration and clear communication to ensure all stakeholders are aligned throughout the product lifecycle.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding The Children's Place as a large, established retail brand is key. This implies a structured, process-oriented environment where efficiency and adherence to brand standards are paramount. The operations of product design are integrated into a larger retail supply chain.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, requiring significant design expertise and the ability to manage product lifecycles with minimal supervision. It sits between junior design roles and senior/lead design positions.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager, Footwear likely reports to a Director of Design, Head of Footwear Design, or potentially a VP of Merchandising/Product Development, depending on the specific organizational structure. This individual will collaborate closely with peers in Merchandising, Product Development, and Technical Design.

Operations Impact: This role directly influences the product assortment, brand perception, and ultimately, revenue generation. Successful footwear design that aligns with market trends and brand identity drives sales, enhances customer loyalty, and contributes to the company's overall financial performance. Efficient design operations reduce time-to-market and minimize development costs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Advance to Senior Designer roles focusing on specific footwear categories or lead design for entire product lines.
• Leadership: Progress into management roles, overseeing teams of designers and shaping the overall design direction for footwear or other product categories.
• Cross-Functional Development: Transition into roles within Merchandising, Product Development, or Brand Management by leveraging deep product knowledge and cross-functional experience.
• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to attend industry trade shows, workshops, and training to stay abreast of the latest design trends, materials, and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path within a large retail organization like The Children's Place offers clear progression. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration provides valuable experience for broader operational roles within the company's GTM function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, likely based at the company's corporate headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey. The environment is expected to be a professional office setting conducive to creative work and collaborative problem-solving.

Office Location(s): Corporate Office - HQ, Secaucus, New Jersey. This location likely offers access to public transportation and is situated within a commercial hub.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely involve a mix of individual creative work (sketching, computer-aided design) and team-based collaboration.
• Access to design resources, sample libraries, and relevant technology (Adobe Suite, PDM).
• Opportunities for regular interaction with cross-functional teams, fostering a dynamic and communicative work environment.
• The environment will be fast-paced, especially during key seasonal development periods.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected. However, the role demands flexibility to meet deadlines, which may require occasional overtime, particularly during critical design phases, market trend shifts, or to oversee international sample development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is typical for design roles where collaboration, access to physical samples, and direct interaction with cross-functional teams are crucial for efficient product development operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and design aesthetic.
• First Interview: Typically with a Hiring Manager or Director of Design. This may involve discussing your resume, design philosophy, and operational approach to product development. Be prepared to walk through key projects from your portfolio.
• Design Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a specific portfolio project in detail, focusing on their process, market rationale, and collaboration experience. This assesses creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Merchandising, Product Development, and Technical Design to evaluate collaboration style and understanding of the broader product lifecycle operations.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a VP-level executive for final approval, focusing on strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest footwear design projects that best showcase your skills, process, and impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach (research, concept development, collaboration), the solution (your designs), and the outcome (e.g., successful market launch, positive feedback).
• Highlight Operations: Emphasize how you collaborated with other departments, managed timelines, addressed technical challenges, and contributed to the overall product development operations.
• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Include examples of detailed sketches, technical packs (if applicable), and digital renderings using Adobe Suite.
• Demonstrate Trend Awareness: Clearly show how your designs were informed by market research and current trends.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Research The Children's Place's current product lines, target audience, and brand aesthetic.
• Anticipate Design Briefs: If given a hypothetical design brief, focus on demonstrating a structured approach: market analysis, concept generation, silhouette/color/material selection, and consideration of production feasibility.
• Practice Presentation: Be ready to articulate your design choices clearly and confidently, justifying them with market insights and brand alignment. Practice explaining your process and how you would collaborate with other operational teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their design process within an operational context. Demonstrating an understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle and cross-functional collaboration is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating detailed sketches, line drawings, and colorways.
• Adobe Photoshop: Used for creating mood boards, color palettes, and initial renderings.
• Adobe InDesign: Potentially used for creating presentation decks and technical packages.
• Bridge: For managing and organizing creative assets.

Product Data Management (PDM) Systems:

• Familiarity with PDM systems is required for tracking product development, managing specifications, and collaborating on product data. Specific system knowledge may vary, but the concept of centralized product data management is key.

Productivity & Collaboration Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite: Including Word for documentation, Excel for data organization (e.g., tracking colorways, trims), and PowerPoint for presentations.
• Email & Calendar: Standard tools for communication and scheduling.
• Potential Collaboration Platforms: e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, or internal company platforms for team communication and file sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable for a design role. Experience with PDM systems indicates an understanding of operational data management within product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brand Integrity: A commitment to upholding and advancing the unique look and vision of The Children's Place brand in all design outputs.
• Customer Focus: Designing products that resonate with children and parents, ensuring style, comfort, and quality.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing strong partnerships with Merchandising, Product Development, Production, and Technical Design to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation & Trend Awareness: Continuously seeking new ideas, materials, and techniques to keep product offerings fresh and competitive.
• Efficiency & Timeliness: A dedication to adhering to calendars, meeting deadlines, and optimizing the design process for speed and accuracy.
• Quality & Fit: Ensuring that all designs meet high standards for durability, comfort, and proper fit.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Actively engaging with teams outside of design to ensure alignment on strategy, feasibility, and execution.
• Open Communication: Maintaining clear, consistent, and proactive communication to resolve issues and share information effectively.
• Feedback Integration: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design and product development processes.
• Problem-Solving Orientation: Working collaboratively to identify and solve challenges that arise during the design and development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a balance between creative expression and the rigorous operational demands of a large retail company. Strong communication and a collaborative spirit are essential for navigating the complex product development process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Trend vs. Brand: Continuously innovating to stay on-trend while ensuring designs remain consistent with The Children's Place brand identity and appeal to their specific customer base.
• Global Production Complexity: Navigating the complexities of working with international manufacturers, managing sample production, and ensuring quality control across different regions.
• Fast-Paced Market: Adapting quickly to evolving fashion trends and consumer demands in the competitive children's apparel market.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and communication across multiple departments with potentially competing priorities.
• Material & Cost Constraints: Designing within specified material budgets and production cost targets without compromising quality or aesthetic.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend footwear trade shows (e.g., FN Platform, Outdoor Retailer) and trend forecasting seminars to stay ahead of the curve.
• Material Innovation: Learning about new fabric technologies, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques in footwear.
• Technical Skills: Deepening expertise in Adobe Suite, PDM systems, and potentially exploring 3D design software.
• Cross-Functional Understanding: Gaining a broader perspective on retail operations by working closely with Merchandising, Production, and Marketing teams.
• Brand Stewardship: Developing a deeper understanding of brand strategy and consumer insights to inform future design directions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational realities of bringing fashion products to market. Growth opportunities are tied to both creative development and operational execution within the fashion industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through your process for designing a new footwear collection for a specific target demographic, from initial concept to final prototype." (Focus on market research, ideation, collaboration, and technical considerations.)
• "How do you ensure your designs align with brand identity while also incorporating current market trends?" (Demonstrate understanding of brand strategy and trend integration.)
• "Describe a time you had to resolve a conflict or challenge with a cross-functional team (e.g., Merchandising, Production) during the product development process. What was the outcome?" (Highlight communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.)
• "How do you approach setting seasonal fabric and trim direction? What factors do you consider?" (Showcase your knowledge of materials and their impact on cost and aesthetics.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What appeals to you about The Children's Place brand and our customer?" (Research the brand, its mission, and target audience.)
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our team's culture of innovation and collaboration?" (Align your values with those of the company.)
• "How do you stay updated on the latest footwear trends and technologies?" (Showcase your passion for continuous learning.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the Big Picture: For each project, briefly introduce the product category, target customer, and the core objective.
• Detail Your Process: Clearly explain your research methods, inspiration sources, design iterations, and how you incorporated feedback.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Point out specific instances where you worked with other teams (Merchandising, Tech Design, Production) and how that collaboration influenced the final product.
• Showcase Technical Skills: Clearly present your sketches, renderings, and any technical details.
• Quantify Impact (if possible): If your designs led to successful sales or positive market reception, mention it.
• Be Concise: Respect the interviewer's time by being thorough but efficient.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also an operational mindset, strong collaboration skills, and an understanding of the retail product lifecycle.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused design position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link.
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a digital portfolio (PDF or personal website) that highlights 3-5 of your strongest footwear design projects. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your design process, market research insights, technical skills (sketches, renderings), and cross-functional collaboration examples.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant experience in footwear design, product development operations, trend analysis, Adobe Suite proficiency, and any experience with PDM systems. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Managed design for X number of SKUs per season").
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, articulate your design philosophy and process, and answer behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and working under deadlines. Practice presenting your design rationale clearly and concisely.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research The Children's Place, its brand, target audience, and recent product lines. Understand their market position and operational approach to product development.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with The Children's Place hiring organization before making application decisions.

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