Senior Footwear Designer, Women's Sneakers at Cole Haan in Greenland, NH

Job description

• ***Please submit application with link to online portfolio or work samples***
• The Senior Designer Women’s Sneakers is responsible for the design and execution of women’s casual fashion sneakers within the Cole Haan product portfolio. This role blends modern design, Cole Haan DNA, performance-driven innovation and modern materialization to deliver on-trend, versatile, elevated sneakers that support the Cole Haan woman from work to weekend.
• As a senior creative leader, this designer will translate brand strategy, consumer insights, and cultural trends into commercially successful multi-tier products while upholding Cole Haan’s legacy of craftsmanship, comfort, and thoughtful innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design for women’s fashion sneakers and Hybrid sneakers from concept through final execution.
• Create seasonally relevant sneaker silhouettes across good, better and best price tiers that balance style, trend, comfort, and performance.
• Translate Cole Haan brand DNA—craft, innovation, and modern versatility—into compelling women’s product.
• Design uppers and tooling concepts aligned with the Cole Haan seasonal playbook and overall sneaker strategy.
• Partner closely with Design Leadership, Product Management and Product Development to ensure designs meet brand, consumer, margin, and calendar requirements.
• Collaborate with Innovation and Development teams to integrate Cole Haan innovation technologies (e.g., cushioning, flexibility, lightweight construction).
• Review and correct prototypes, providing clear, actionable feedback in partnership with development to improve aesthetics and functionality.
• Present design concepts and seasonal strategies to cross-functional and leadership teams.
• Maintain strong awareness of women’s fashion, sneaker culture, lifestyle trends, and the competitive landscape.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of multi-tier / multi-channel footwear design experience, with a strong focus on women’s sneakers.
• Demonstrated success designing women’s product that blends style and comfort.
• Experience working with global development and manufacturing partners.
• Strong understanding of sneaker construction, materials, and comfort-driven design.
• Proven ability to balance creativity with commercial viability.
• Strong fashion sensibility with a clear point of view on women’s lifestyle sneakers.
• Excellent sketching, concept development, and visual storytelling skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; 3D design tools a plus.
• Deep knowledge of premium materials, color, and finishes appropriate for women’s footwear.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across design, merchandising, development, and innovation teams.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple seasons simultaneously.

Skills

Required

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Sketching
• Concept development
• Visual storytelling
• Sneaker construction knowledge
• Materials knowledge
• Comfort-driven design
• Collaboration
• Organization
• Detail-oriented
• Multi-season management

Preferred

• 3D design tools