Careers | Shoe-Design.com

Dreaming of a career in the shoe biz? With such a wide range of employment opportunities
in the footwear industry, you’re sure to find the job that fits. We’ve put together a handy
Career Guide table with job titles, job descriptions, and the salaries one may
expect to earn from an exciting career in Shoe Design.

Job Title	Job Duties	Median Salaries
Senior Footwear Designer	Participates in field research to identify customer’s expectations Manages the design direction and translates market input into innovative designs Travels to enhance design trend/ knowledge Contributes design solutions Offers creative input for the design teams Uses knowledge of costing and shoemaking to develop cost efficient product Demonstrates knowledge of materials, pattern making, and the fitting of footwear	$85-$150K
Footwear Designer	Responsible for the conceptualization of a footwear line Develops a footwear line for a specific target market Develops and creates illustrations and technical drawings for new design concepts Uses knowledge of materials, patterns, and footwear construction	$40-$80K
Assistant Footwear Designer	Works closely with design team in all aspects of shoe design and merchandising Assists head designer/design team in the development of a new product Responsible for technical sketches, specifications, preparation of line sheets, and materials research Responsible for sample line and fit corrections	$25-$45K
Footwear Buyer	Merchandise selection and product development, as it relates to budgeted goals Analysis of sales to identify trends, opportunities, challenges and develop product accordingly Account for the merchandise flow and strategy as well as line builders to be aware of what they are working on and addressing retail needs Effective communication with corporate sourcing and factories to meet pricing and scheduling needs Proficiency in visual directives, floor plans, pairs on desk report, markdowns, buy sheets and store communications	$45-$120+K
Assistant Footwear Buyer	Maintains, develops and updates departmental reports as necessary Analyzes product performance Makes recommendations to buyer, including re-buys and markdowns Writes and follows up on purchase orders Works with merchandising team to ensure all orders are completed in a timely manner General office duties Strong organization and communication skills Ability to meet deadlines Strong analytical skills	$25-$50K
Trend Analyst	Identifies the key fashion issues, giving direction to major retailers nationally & internationally Trend forecasting targeting specific markets Interprets trends commercially Provides photos showing latest trends, key items, and new material developments Provides a selection of samples representing trends applicable to customer’s market Supplies a retail report including new merchandising concepts, marketing styles, visual merchandising innovations, customer attitude shifts, and lifestyle changes Consults with buying staff and visual merchandising teams to research a classification or customer demographic Develops and presents customized trend boards Progressive color sense Solid understanding of color forecasting / trending, color palettes, and materials	$35-$50K
Account Coordinator	Direct contact with accounts to oversee the entering of orders Responsible for breakdown of orders Must track and be responsible for shipment of orders Relays notes of order changes and order problems to sales representative and accounts buyers	$25-$45K
Account Manager	Manages key buying offices In-store servicing national accounts and independent businesses Builds long-term relationships with business contacts to ensure product presence is consistent and well represented Effective interpersonal skills Computer proficiency Ability and willingness to travel	$45-$80K
Assistant Product Development Manager	Manages the development of product to ensure the goals of the project are met Writes/maintains spec sheets and maintains timelines Offers advice and makes recommendations to solve problems and enhance the manufacturability of products Possesses a strong knowledge of the technical aspects of footwear manufacturing and design Presents technical and administrative status of projects in Team meetings. Strong interpersonal communication skills – written and oral Project management skills to manage multiple projects at different stages of development	$25-$45K
Director of Marketing	Awareness of pricing in marketplace Understanding of product· Preparation and Presentation skills Manages development and execution of assigned product line strategies, market research, and product life cycles Writes a marketing plan including Objectives and Strategies Identifies critical factors for success Establishes distinct position within the market relative to the competition Utilizes project management skills including establishing and managing budgets Establishes project timelines and deadlines Works with creative teams, understanding the creative process Leadership Strong business management skills	$45-$90K
Footwear Technician	Supports the Development and Production teams to ensure product spec sheets and samples conform and meet quality standards and technical design requirements. Technical knowledge in footwear fit construction	$45-$100K
Footwear Line Builder	Involved with the product development and marketing aspects of a Footwear company. Keen eye for trends Responsible for researching the market place for new trends and new materials Responsible for technical sketches, specifications, preparation of line sheets Assists in the merchandising of a line	$50-$100K
Product Support and Cost Analyst	Offers specific recommendations on material specification changes to achieve cost savings Analyzes product-costing process Negotiates final costs for finished shoes and components with vendors Communicates and provides input to resolve commercialization and quality issues Proactively understands and responds to customer needs Responsible for project follow through, guidelines and requirements are established by the team	$40-$80K
Sales Representative	Develops new accounts Builds new relationships with retailers in the specified territory Provides sales support and service for existing retail accounts Represents the product line at various footwear shows Presents product line to retailers Prospects for new accounts Able to travel throughout designated territory Possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills Strong business planning skills Proficiency in Excel and Word	$40-$100K
Senior Production Coordinator / Production Manager	Places contracts as needed Ensures delivery of shoes on a timely basis to fulfill customers’ needs Reviews and answers customer acceleration/advertising requests Updates and distributes reports on a weekly, bi-weekly and monthly basis Possesses strong analytical, computer skills Able to prioritize and multi task	$45-$80K