Wholesale Marketing Production Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Wholesale Marketing Production Design Manager

Company: KEEN Footwear

Location: Portland, OR

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Production

Date Posted: May 20, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develops and executes production design for in-store and digital marketing initiatives across Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and key wholesale accounts.

• Ensures strategic alignment and visual compellingness of internal and external presentations to enhance brand visibility and sell-through performance.

• Partners cross-functionally with US Marketing to deliver high-quality, best-in-class marketing assets that support business objectives and accelerate production timelines.

• Designs and visualizes in-store experiences, including permanent fixtures and seasonal storytelling, tailored to diverse wholesale environments and consumer engagement best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Production Design Manager," the responsibilities and required skills lean heavily into marketing production and creative execution within a wholesale and DTC context. This role is critical for translating brand strategy into tangible marketing assets that drive sales across various channels. The "Manager" title might imply team management, but the description focuses on individual contribution and project execution, suggesting a senior individual contributor role or a manager of a small, specialized function rather than a large team.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and execution of seasonal in-store wholesale marketing initiatives for strategic, specialty, and key run specialty accounts, aiming to elevate brand presence and improve sell-through.

• Prepare and deliver comprehensive internal and external presentations for key milestones, including Seasonal Kickoffs, Sales Meeting Milestones, Monthly Recaps, Quarterly Reviews, and account-facing meetings (Top-to-Top, Pre-Line, Final Line).

• Collaborate closely with the US Marketing team to design and implement marketing solutions for projects with accelerated timelines, ensuring timely delivery of in-season activations and rapid response to emerging business opportunities.

• Conceptualize and visualize engaging in-store experiences, from permanent fixtures to dynamic seasonal storytelling, ensuring solutions are adaptable to diverse wholesale environments and adhere to best practices in consumer engagement and brand expression.

• Adapt and optimize global seasonal toolkits into market-relevant digital marketing assets for paid media and social channels, ensuring brand voice consistency and effectively meeting wholesale partner objectives and regional needs.

• Maintain rigorous quality control for both visual and written content, including copyediting, to ensure accuracy, consistency, and strict adherence to brand standards across all marketing materials.

• Proactively identify and implement process improvements within the marketing production workflow to enhance efficiency and output quality.

• Manage multiple production design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet strict deadlines and evolving business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core function involves translating marketing strategies into executable design assets for both physical retail (in-store) and digital platforms. The emphasis on "production design" alongside "marketing" suggests a need for practical design skills with a strong understanding of manufacturing, material application, and scalable execution, particularly for retail environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in production design, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in outdoor, lifestyle, or technical apparel/footwear brands.

• Demonstrated experience in adapting global brand guidelines and toolkits for local market execution.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud suite, specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, for creating high-fidelity design assets.

• Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint for compelling presentations and Excel for data organization.

• Strong understanding of visual design principles: layout, typography, color theory, hierarchy, and brand consistency.

• Working knowledge of digital marketing channels (paid media, social media) and retail environments (DTC and wholesale).

• Solid grasp of brand standards and effective product storytelling techniques.

• Meticulous attention to detail in both visual and written content, including copyediting and quality control.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple complex projects.

• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a strong sense of accountability for driving tasks to completion.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, capable of articulating creative concepts and strategies clearly.

• Ability to collaborate effectively cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and product teams to achieve business objectives.

• Awareness of current trends in retail, digital marketing, and the outdoor industry to inform creative output.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with photography, including art direction or execution, is a significant plus.

• Familiarity with project management software and workflow automation tools.

• Prior experience in designing for permanent retail fixtures and in-store visual merchandising.

• Understanding of outdoor/technical product features and their application in marketing narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of technical design proficiency, strategic marketing understanding, and strong project management capabilities. The preference for outdoor/lifestyle brands indicates a need for an appreciation of that specific market and its consumer base. The "Manager" title, coupled with the emphasis on individual contribution, suggests this role requires a senior-level individual contributor who can operate autonomously and guide projects, rather than manage a large team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of production design work across both digital and physical marketing channels, with a strong emphasis on retail and wholesale applications.

• Specific examples of how you have adapted global brand guidelines into localized and market-relevant assets.

• Case studies demonstrating your process for developing and executing in-store marketing experiences or visual merchandising concepts.

• Demonstrations of how you have translated product features and brand stories into compelling visual narratives for marketing campaigns.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow design and optimization for marketing production, illustrating how you’ve improved efficiency or quality.

• Documentation of your process for translating global toolkits into localized digital marketing assets for paid media and social channels.

• Methodologies used for quality control and copyediting of marketing collateral to ensure brand consistency and accuracy.

• A clear approach to how you manage and prioritize multiple design projects with varying deadlines and stakeholder requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should highlight practical execution and adaptation skills, particularly for the retail environment. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic design talent but also strategic thinking in applying brand guidelines and driving sell-through. The emphasis on adaptation of global toolkits to local markets and the creation of in-store experiences are key elements to showcase.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $81,000 - $88,596 USD per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is provided for a Production Design Manager role in Portland, OR. The stated range is $81,000 - $88,596. This range is considered competitive for a mid-level to senior individual contributor role in the Portland, OR area, especially within the consumer goods or apparel industry, considering the required experience and skills. Regional salary data for similar roles in Portland typically falls within this bracket. The company notes this is just one component of a competitive total rewards strategy.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage options.

• Welfare Benefits: Additional benefits designed to support employee well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, likely around 40 hours per week.

• The role requires flexibility to work under tight deadlines and adapt to evolving business needs, which may necessitate occasional overtime or adjusted schedules.

• Significant travel (25%) is expected, impacting the typical work week structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits listed are general. For a role involving significant travel, flexibility in working hours is often implied, and the company's "total rewards strategy" likely includes other perks common in the outdoor industry, such as employee discounts or wellness programs, which are not explicitly detailed.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Footwear & Apparel (Outdoor Lifestyle)

Company Size: KEEN Footwear is part of the outdoor industry, known for its values-driven approach and commitment to sustainability and community impact. The company was founded in 2003 and has grown into a significant player in the global footwear market.

Founded: 2003

Team Structure:

• The role reports into the US Marketing team and collaborates closely with various cross-functional departments, including Sales, Product Development, and potentially Global Marketing.

• The "Manager" title suggests potential oversight of junior designers or production artists, or it could indicate a senior individual contributor role responsible for managing complex projects and key relationships. Given the description, it leans towards the latter, with a focus on individual contribution and project leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: While not explicitly stated for this role, KEEN's mission suggests a data-informed approach to marketing and product development, likely involving analysis of sell-through data, market trends, and consumer insights.

• Brand-Centric Execution: A strong emphasis on executing brand strategy and maintaining brand standards across all touchpoints.

• Process Optimization: The role is expected to contribute to efficient production workflows, indicating a focus on streamlining processes for timely delivery of marketing assets.

• Values-Driven Initiatives: KEEN emphasizes its mission to "create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure," suggesting that company culture and decision-making are guided by these core values.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: KEEN is positioned as a values-led, independently owned brand with a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility, which is a significant differentiator. This ethos likely permeates its company culture and decision-making processes, impacting how marketing initiatives are developed and executed.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor or a manager of a specialized creative/production function within the marketing department. It requires a blend of creative expertise, technical production skills, and strategic marketing understanding. The responsibilities involve significant project ownership and cross-functional leadership without direct line management of a large team in most cases.

Reporting Structure: The role will likely report to a Marketing Director or Senior Marketing Manager, working closely within the US Marketing team. Collaboration will extend across sales, product, and potentially global marketing departments.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on KEEN's revenue and brand perception by ensuring that marketing assets are compelling, strategically aligned, and effectively deployed across wholesale and DTC channels. High-quality in-store experiences and optimized digital marketing collateral directly contribute to increased brand visibility, sell-through performance, and partner satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in retail marketing production, visual merchandising, and digital asset creation within the outdoor industry.

• Leadership: Potential to move into broader marketing management roles, lead larger creative teams, or specialize in specific areas like global brand asset management.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to refine presentation skills, deepen understanding of retail partnerships, and stay abreast of emerging marketing technologies and trends.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader business acumen by working closely with sales, product, and e-commerce teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Manager" title in this context is key. It signals a level of responsibility and autonomy typically associated with significant project leadership and strategic input, rather than entry-level or mid-level production roles. Growth would likely involve expanding scope, team leadership, or strategic marketing roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Portland, OR, and is described as "On-site." This suggests a traditional office environment where collaboration and physical presence are valued. Given KEEN's industry, the office environment is likely dynamic and may incorporate elements reflecting their outdoor and lifestyle brand identity.

Office Location(s): Portland, Oregon, USA.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that fosters cross-functional collaboration, essential for aligning with marketing, sales, and product teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Cloud) and office productivity tools. The environment will likely support creative brainstorming and iteration.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to interact with colleagues across different departments, including potential interactions with designers, marketers, and sales representatives. The 25% travel requirement means the workspace also extends to retail environments and partner locations.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time schedule (approximately 40 hours per week) is anticipated.

• The role demands flexibility due to tight deadlines and the need to adapt to evolving business requirements, which may require working beyond standard hours.

• The 25% travel component will necessitate a structured approach to managing both office-based and travel-related work commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is critical. For a role involving physical production design and in-store experience visualization, being present in the office and potentially visiting retail locations is essential for effective execution and collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by an HR representative or hiring manager to assess qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your process, design choices, and the impact of your work, particularly for retail and wholesale marketing initiatives. Focus on how you adapted global assets and created in-store experiences.

• Skills-Based Interview: Technical questions assessing proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, design principles, and marketing knowledge. You may be asked to solve a hypothetical design challenge or critique existing marketing materials.

• Cross-functional/Behavioral Interview: Discussions with potential collaborators (e.g., Marketing, Sales) to evaluate teamwork, communication style, problem-solving abilities, and alignment with KEEN's values.

• Final Interview: A meeting with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your ability to execute production design for wholesale and DTC marketing, especially in retail environments. Highlight examples of adapting global toolkits and creating in-store experiences.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact on sell-through/brand visibility.

• Quantify Results: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved sell-through rates, positive client feedback).

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate a keen understanding of brand consistency and how you apply brand standards across different channels. For KEEN, emphasize your appreciation for the outdoor/lifestyle aesthetic.

• Presentation Clarity: Prepare a clean, concise presentation (e.g., PDF, slides) that is easy to navigate and visually appealing. Be ready to present it confidently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a design exercise that might involve adapting a global asset for a specific wholesale account, conceptualizing an in-store display, or creating a digital ad based on a brief. Focus on speed, creativity, and strategic thinking within constraints.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you handle tight deadlines, conflicting priorities, or challenging stakeholder feedback. Prepare examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Brand Knowledge: Research KEEN Footwear's current marketing campaigns, product lines, and brand values. Understand their target audience and competitive landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "production design" and "wholesale marketing" means candidates should highlight their ability to deliver practical, scalable, and on-brand assets that directly support sales and retail execution, rather than purely conceptual or editorial design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential for graphic design and production.

  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and layout.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, retouching, and digital asset creation.
  • InDesign: For layout of presentations, brochures, and print collateral.

• Microsoft Office Suite:

  • PowerPoint: Crucial for creating high-impact internal and external presentations.
  • Excel: For data organization, basic analysis, and tracking project details.
  • Word: For document creation and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned as required for this role, but familiarity with project management or workflow tools that assist in managing production pipelines would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft PowerPoint are non-negotiable for this role, as they are directly tied to the core responsibilities of creating marketing assets and delivering presentations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Values-Led: KEEN operates as a values-led brand, prioritizing an impact-driven mission that includes improving lives and inspiring outdoor adventure. This likely means decisions are made with consideration for sustainability, community, and ethical practices.

• Brand Integrity: A strong commitment to maintaining brand standards and telling a compelling product story that resonates with the outdoor and lifestyle consumer.

• Efficiency & Agility: The need to execute marketing projects with accelerated timelines implies a culture that values responsiveness, adaptability, and efficient workflow management.

• Collaboration & Community: As an independently owned brand, KEEN likely fosters a sense of community and encourages collaborative efforts across departments to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Originality: KEEN has a history of innovation (e.g., the Newport sandal), suggesting a culture that values original thinking and creative problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires extensive collaboration with US Marketing, Sales, and Product teams. This suggests a culture that values open communication and shared responsibility for business objectives.

• Feedback Exchange: A willingness to give and receive constructive feedback is essential, particularly in a creative production environment where iteration and refinement are key.

• Partner-Oriented: Working with wholesale accounts means a collaborative approach to understanding their needs and delivering tailored marketing solutions that support their business.

📝 Enhancement Note: KEEN's strong brand identity and values are central to its culture. Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with these values, particularly regarding a passion for the outdoors, sustainability, and community impact, in addition to their creative and production skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Partner Needs: Adapting global brand toolkits to meet the specific demands and environments of diverse wholesale partners while maintaining overall brand integrity.

• Accelerated Production Timelines: Meeting tight deadlines for marketing asset creation and presentation delivery in a fast-paced retail and digital marketing landscape.

• Visualizing In-Store Experiences: Translating abstract concepts into tangible, effective in-store designs that drive consumer engagement and sell-through across varied retail spaces.

• Managing Multiple Priorities: Juggling numerous projects simultaneously, each with unique requirements and stakeholders, demanding exceptional organizational and time management skills.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously monitoring and integrating current trends in retail, digital marketing, and the outdoor industry to ensure creative output remains relevant and impactful.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Retail Marketing Specialization: Deepen expertise in the nuances of retail marketing, visual merchandising, and in-store experience design within the competitive outdoor industry.

• Digital Marketing Asset Optimization: Enhance skills in adapting creative assets for various digital platforms, understanding paid media and social media strategies.

• Cross-Functional Business Acumen: Gain a broader understanding of sales cycles, product development, and DTC e-commerce operations through close collaboration.

• Presentation & Communication Skills: Refine the ability to articulate complex creative strategies and project outcomes to diverse internal and external audiences.

• Industry Insights: Benefit from exposure to the operations and values of a leading, values-driven outdoor brand, potentially attending industry events or workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly linked to the core responsibilities, emphasizing the need for adaptability, strong project management, and a strategic approach to creative execution within a dynamic market. Growth opportunities focus on deepening specialization and expanding business understanding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to adapt a global marketing asset for a specific local market or partner. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on adaptation, brand integrity, and results.)

• "How do you approach designing an in-store experience that balances brand storytelling with a specific retail partner's environment and objectives?" (Highlight creative problem-solving, understanding of retail space, and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about KEEN Footwear and our mission? How do you see your role contributing to our values?" (Research KEEN's mission, values, and recent campaigns.)

• "Describe your experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional environment. How do you ensure smooth communication and alignment with teams like Sales and Product?" (Provide examples of teamwork and conflict resolution.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation like a story: problem/brief, your creative process/solution, challenges, and measurable results.

• Highlight Key Projects: Focus on 2-3 projects that best align with the job description – demonstrating production design for wholesale/DTC, in-store experience design, and adaptation of global assets.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, state the objective and any quantifiable results (e.g., "Increased sell-through by X%", "Improved engagement on social media by Y%").

• Process Over Perfection: While visuals are key, be ready to discuss the "why" behind your design choices, your problem-solving approach, and how you managed project constraints.

• KEEN Context: Frame your examples in a way that shows you understand KEEN's brand, target audience, and market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating practical design execution, strategic thinking in marketing contexts, and a cultural fit with KEEN's values-driven approach. The ability to translate brand strategy into tangible, sales-driving assets is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Wholesale Marketing Production Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the KEEN Footwear careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most relevant projects that showcase your experience in production design for retail (in-store), wholesale marketing, and digital asset adaptation. Ensure your portfolio clearly illustrates your process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight achievements and responsibilities that directly align with the job description, emphasizing experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft PowerPoint, retail marketing, brand adaptation, and project management. Use keywords from the job posting.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, articulating your creative process, rationale behind design choices, and any quantifiable results for each project. Be ready to discuss how you'd approach specific challenges mentioned in the job description.

• Research KEEN: Familiarize yourself with KEEN Footwear's brand, mission, values, product lines, and recent marketing activities. Understand their position in the outdoor industry and their approach to sustainability and community.

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