Footwear Designer- Corporate Headquarters, NJ

Position Summary : The

Footwear Designer - Children's Shoes

will lead the design and development process for seasonal children's footwear collections, ensuring alignment with The Children's Place brand DNA, consumer needs, and business strategies. The ideal candidate is a trend-savvy, consumer-obsessed designer with deep knowledge of children's footwear design, construction, fit, and safety requirements. They will balance creativity with commercial viability and partner cross-functionally to bring innovative, functional, and fun footwear to market.

Key Accountabilities :

Lead the conceptualization, design, and development of seasonal children's footwear collections across multiple categories (infant, toddler, and big kids).

Research global fashion trends, competitive landscape, materials, and consumer insights to inform forward-thinking and brand-right designs.

Create compelling sketches, tech packs, and prototypes that communicate design vision with clarity and detail.

Ensure designs meet both aesthetic and functional needs unique to children's footwear (comfort, durability, safety, ease of use).

Partner with Merchandising, and Sourcing teams to ensure design intent is translated into high-quality, cost-effective products and meets our target AUC.

Review samples and prototypes, providing detailed feedback on fit, construction, materials, and trim to refine product to final approval stage.

Balance innovation with commercial viability, ensuring products are trend-right, age-appropriate, and aligned with brand pricing architecture.

Present seasonal concepts, design directions, and line reviews to leadership, merchandising, and cross-functional partners.

Collaborate with Graphic Design, Apparel Design, and Marketing teams to ensure product matches back and is cohesive across categories.

Build and maintain strong relationships with external vendors, factories, and suppliers, communicating clearly to achieve design execution excellence.

Education and Experience :

Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or related field.

5+ years of professional footwear design experience, with a strong focus on children's footwear preferred.

Proven track record of developing successful footwear collections from concept through production.

Skills and Behaviors :

Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Miro, and Microsoft Office.

Excellent sketching, rendering, and technical drawing abilities.

Knowledge of footwear construction, lasts, fit requirements, and child-specific safety standards

Strong understanding of color theory, materials, and trend forecasting.

Must be able to work towards multiple deadlines with shifting priorities.

Core Competencies :

Creative visionary with strong commercial sensibility.

Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight timelines.

Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Strong problem-solving skills and ability to anticipate and resolve challenges throughout the design process.