Head of Design & Development

Head of Design & Development 
 

Join a founder-led Luxury Footwear brand at a pivotal growth stage. Our range, markets, and retail partnerships are expanding fast across US And Europe — and product creation needs a dedicated leader to match that ambition.

This isn't about refining someone else's process. It's a rare chance to establish a product-creation operating model from the ground up — and build the team, standards, and systems that carry the brand for years.

Why this role is different

You'll be our first dedicated product-creation leader, working directly with the founders with genuine decision authority. You'll make routine product calls within clear rules and personally close critical exceptions until processes and team are reliable. No artificial ceiling — as the range grows, so does your scope. But it's hands-on: you'll initially lead a lean network spanning a factory-side technical developer, a design-side CMF resource, and specialist original-design partners.

What you'll own

• The full product-creation lifecycle — concept through sampling, costing, fit, testing, and commercialization

• Product decisions within clear rules; escalation only when it matters

• Cross-functional leadership across design, development, and manufacturing

• Footwear construction, materials, lasts, outsoles, costing, and fit standards

• A lean external network of developers, CMF resources, and design partners

• Supplier and factory relationships — intervening on-site when a product gate is at risk

What we're looking for

• 8+ years in footwear product development or design management, with multiple commercialized seasons

• Hands-on factory or development-center experience in China or Asia

• Strong knowledge of footwear construction, materials, lasts, outsoles, costing, fit, testing, and commercialization

• Proven cross-functional leadership across design, development, and manufacturing

• Fluency in English as well as Mandarin preferred

• Independent judgment, practical problem-solving, and real decision authority

• Remote working model with location-appropriate travel to critical product gate