[NDK] Product Designer, Boots

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Boots

Company: Nidecker Group

Location: Rolle, Vaud, Switzerland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: August 3, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative direction and product line management for the Nidecker boots category, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and market trends.

• Drive innovation in footwear design through trend forecasting, material research, and concept development for boots.

• Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle from line planning and concept ideation to sample review and final product approval.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Developers, Marketing, and Studio teams to ensure design intent is technically feasible and commercially viable.

• Contribute to product storytelling, packaging, and point-of-sale creative direction to enhance market presence and consumer engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily product design-focused, the extensive involvement in product line management, cross-functional collaboration for technical feasibility, and market-facing responsibilities position it within the broader GTM (Go-To-Market) Operations spectrum. Success will heavily rely on operationalizing design concepts into market-ready products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead trend, color, and material research to define the seasonal creative direction for the boots category, aligning with the Nidecker brand strategy and broader snow sports aesthetic.

• Translate the product line plan into compelling design concepts, including sketches, mood boards, colorways, and material stories for each silhouette.

• Own and manage the product line plan, leveraging sales data, past performance, and long-term category vision to shape the overall product range.

• Define and meticulously brief color, materials, graphics, and trims for Tech Pack creation, working in close partnership with the Developer to ensure specifications accurately reflect design intent.

• Conduct rigorous sample reviews at key milestones (e.g., Black sample, Preline, Photo sample, SMS, Production) with the Developer to validate design integrity and market readiness.

• Act as a key liaison between design and development, arbitrating design-versus-feasibility trade-offs (cost, sourcing, manufacturing constraints) without compromising the core creative concept.

• Maintain oversight of product data creation and modification to ensure consistency with the line plan prior to diffusion, supporting operational efficiency.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key component and technology partners (e.g., BOA, Vibram) for new development launches and category direction.

• Manage Special Make-Up (SMU) and collaboration projects end-to-end, from initial communication to final product delivery, ensuring seamless execution.

• Oversee studio shooting of boots to produce key product assets, collaborating with Product Development and adhering to shooting guidelines.

• Partner with the marketing team to define product storytelling, key visuals, and communication direction for product launches, ensuring cohesive brand messaging.

• Contribute to naming, packaging, and point-of-sale creative direction in collaboration with the studio team.

• Present the product range at internal events (e.g., Team Week, Sales Meeting), leading workshops and gathering feedback from key stakeholders.

• Represent products at major seasonal events, including Shop First Try sessions and clinics, engaging with distributors and end-users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strong operational execution in product development. The emphasis on managing timelines, coordinating with multiple departments, and ensuring technical feasibility alongside creative vision highlights the operational aspects of this design role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Product Design, or a related technical field, OR a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience.

• Motivated junior profiles with a strong passion for snowboarding and a desire to grow within the role are also encouraged to apply. Experience:

• Proven experience in footwear design, with a specific focus on product line management and development.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple product milestones, SMU/collaboration projects, and competing deadlines within a structured seasonal calendar. Required Skills:

• Trend Forecasting & Creative Direction: Strong sense of trend forecasting, color theory, and material storytelling within footwear or a related product category. Ability to translate trends into actionable design concepts and define seasonal creative direction.

• Footwear Construction & Materials: Solid understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes. Technical fluency to brief Tech Packs accurately and engage in informed discussions with developers.

• Product Line Planning: Proven line planning experience, utilizing sales data, prior season results, and category vision to inform range strategy and product assortment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent partnership skills, particularly with Developers, Marketing, and Studio teams, facilitating seamless communication and execution.

• Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills to oversee multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders effectively.

• Technical Feasibility & Cost Awareness: Ability to balance creative vision with technical feasibility, cost constraints, and sourcing realities, while maintaining an awareness of costing considerations.

• Presentation & Communication: Confident presenter capable of leading workshops, gathering stakeholder feedback, and articulating design intent clearly. Fluency in French and English (spoken and written) is essential.

Preferred Skills:

• Snowboarding/Action Sports Passion: Genuine passion for snowboarding, action sports, or outdoor culture, with an intuitive feel for the Nidecker brand aesthetic and market nuances.

• Component & Technology Partner Engagement: Experience managing relationships with key component and technology partners (e.g., BOA, Vibram) for new product innovation.

• SMU/Collaboration Project Management: Demonstrated success in managing Special Make-Up (SMU) and collaboration projects from inception to completion.

• Digital Design Tools: Proficiency with relevant design software and digital tools for sketching, mood boards, and concept visualization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "genuine passion for snowboarding" and an "intuitive feel for the Nidecker brand aesthetic" suggests that candidates with direct industry experience will have a significant advantage. The emphasis on both technical understanding and creative storytelling indicates a role that bridges the gap between engineering and marketing.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Concept Development: Showcase a range of design concepts for footwear, demonstrating creative ideation, sketching, mood board creation, and material/color story development. Highlight the process from initial brief to refined concept.

• Product Line Strategy Examples: Include examples of how you've contributed to or managed a product line plan, illustrating your approach to analyzing sales data, identifying market opportunities, and shaping a cohesive product range.

• Technical Documentation: Present examples of Tech Packs or detailed design specifications you've created or collaborated on, showcasing your understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing requirements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Case Studies: Detail projects where you successfully collaborated with development, marketing, or manufacturing teams, highlighting your ability to navigate trade-offs and ensure successful product execution.

Process Documentation:

• Design-to-Development Workflow: Illustrate your understanding of the product development lifecycle, from initial trend research and concept ideation through to sample review and production. Show how you integrate with development processes.

• Line Planning Methodology: Document your approach to line planning, including how you use data, market insights, and brand strategy to inform product assortment decisions.

• SMU/Collaboration Project Management: Provide an example of how you manage complex projects like Special Make-Ups or collaborations, detailing your process for communication, timeline management, and stakeholder alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Applicants should prepare to present a portfolio that not only showcases design aesthetics but also demonstrates a strong understanding of product