Tapestry Footwear Technical Design Director

About Tapestry

Tapestry is a New York–based house of modern luxury, uniting the distinctive worlds of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. As an employer, the group offers the scale and sophistication of a global fashion leader while preserving the creative spirit and heritage of its iconic brands. Tapestry cultivates an inclusive, purpose-driven culture where design, craftsmanship, digital innovation, and commercial excellence intersect. Its teams are encouraged to think boldly, grow continuously, and contribute to a more responsible future for fashion, making Tapestry a compelling environment for talent seeking impact, creativity, and international opportunity.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the footwear technical design team, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure successful project execution.
• Collaborate with design, product development, commercialization, and manufacturing teams to translate design concepts into technically feasible footwear products.
• Oversee technical specifications, including construction details, material specifications, and fit requirements.
• Review footwear prototypes and samples to identify and address construction, fit, and quality issues.
• Partner with suppliers and vendors to source materials, components, and manufacturing processes that meet quality standards and cost targets.
• Assess product risks across materials, fit, and performance.
• Monitor footwear design and manufacturing trends, innovations, and best practices to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for technical design, ensuring consistency and efficiency across projects.
• Work with fitting models to evaluate the fit, comfort, and performance of footwear prototypes and sales samples during development.
• Develop, assess, and correct new lasts and constructions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve technical challenges and deliver solutions that meet design, performance, and cost requirements.
• Ensure a smooth transfer of tech packs from product development to commercialization and production teams.
• Lead process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and innovation in footwear design and development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that supports creativity, accountability, and professional growth.
• Drive product and process innovation across the FTW platform.
• Build an effective team and enable members to develop their skills and careers, find solutions, and achieve goals.
• Set clear priorities aligned with brand strategy and goals.
• Hire, train, and retain appropriate staff.
• Provide regular, constructive feedback.
• Promote team unity through information and expertise sharing, using persuasion rather than authority.
• Plan development for high-potential employees and succession for critical positions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Footwear Technology, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 8–10 years of experience in footwear design and technical work, with a record of leading teams and delivering innovative products.
• Expertise in footwear construction, materials, fit, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong knowledge of women’s, men’s, and children’s footwear categories and Dress, Casual, Sneakers, Jellies, Flip Flop, Vulcanized, and Injected typologies.
• Knowledge of reading and adjusting blueprints for construction development, including molded outsoles, heels, uppers, and ornaments.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, including collaboration with cross-functional teams, senior management, external patterns, and suppliers.
• Detail-oriented, with a passion for quality and craftsmanship.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Experience in a global or multicultural environment is a plus.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Results-driven, with an understanding of business needs and the ability to execute with excellence.
• Motivated, energized, and hands-on.
• Adaptable to changing business needs, with a problem-solving attitude.
• Demonstrated record of delivering results.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and record-keeping skills, with attention to detail.
• Demonstrates courage by communicating directly and constructively, addressing people issues promptly, and taking necessary action.
• Demonstrates creativity by generating original ideas and making connections among different concepts.
• Customer-focused, using customer insight to improve products and services and building effective, trusted relationships.
• Able to deal effectively with ambiguity, change, risk, and uncertainty.
• Demonstrates a consistent drive to exceed goals and deliver results.
• Interpersonally savvy, able to build rapport and constructive relationships and use diplomacy and tact.
• Learns quickly, adapts to change, analyzes successes and failures, and experiments to find solutions.
• As a people manager, demonstrates strategic agility and anticipates future trends and consequences.
• Develops direct reports and others through challenging assignments, frequent development discussions, career-aligned plans, and support for further development.
• Builds effective teams by fostering morale, open dialogue, shared success, accountability, and belonging.

Skills

Experience

At least 8–10 years in footwear design and technical work.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Footwear Technology, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.

Culture

Tapestry fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, craftsmanship, and consumer insight come together across its portfolio of iconic fashion and lifestyle brands. As an employer, it encourages entrepreneurial thinking, global perspective, and continuous growth, empowering teams to shape meaningful brand experiences while contributing to a culture of innovation and belonging.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.