Design Manager - Color & Materials

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us.

Job Title: Design Manager: Color & Materials

Reports to: Director, Design - Emerging Brands

Location: Goleta, CA - Hybrid

The Role

Emerging Brands is seeking a Design Manager, Footwear Color & Materials to lead the creative vision for color, materials, and finishes across all footwear categories. This role is responsible for developing and implementing trend-forward, brand-right palettes and material stories that align with Teva and Ahnu's DNA. The ideal candidate is passionate about color and materials, understands performance and lifestyle footwear, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute seasonal color and material strategies that align with Teva and Ahnu's brand vision, consumer insights, and market trends.
• Lead the research, selection, and application of innovative materials and finishes to enhance both performance and aesthetics.
• Collaborate with Product Design, Development, and Merchandising teams to ensure color and material executions meet aesthetic, functional, and sustainability goals.
• Manage the creation and presentation of seasonal color palettes, material boards, and trend reports.
• Work closely with suppliers to source and develop innovative, sustainable, and high-quality materials.
• Oversee the material and color approval process, ensuring consistency and alignment with brand standards.
• Partner with the global merchandising team to align color and material narratives with brand storytelling and seasonal campaigns.
• Mentor and inspire a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in footwear, apparel, or accessories color and material design, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong understanding of color theory, material innovation, and sustainability trends.
• Experience working with global suppliers and managing material development timelines.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D visualization tools.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Passion for the outdoors, adventure, and an active lifestyle.

We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

Your Impact
The primary functions of this role, include but are not limited to:

1. Managing all color merchandising for footwear.
2. Managing the color cad handoff, process, and deliverables.
3. Managing the webbing design and development process.
4. Managing other color designers.

Who You Are

• Must be able to collaborate effectively. Mentor and bring up young designers. Be organized.
• We'd love to hear from people with

• A passion for color merchandising and footwear design application. That love working within a triad group of product creation professionals. You love sharing ideas and care about pushing a brand forward through the use of color.

What We'll Give You

Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We've created a variety of competitive compensation programs to foster career development, reward success and to show our employees just how much they're valued.
Financial Planning and wellbeing - No matter what financial goals our employees have set, we want to help them get there. Our plans provide powerful ways to protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
Time away from work - Sometimes we need time away to be with family, focus on our health or just simply recharge. Our plans support our employees' needs to get out, get healthy and come back stronger than ever.
Extras, discounts and perks - Being a valued member of the Deckers Brands team means more than just a paycheck. From generous discounts to community-based programs, we offer a variety of cool extras
Growth and Development - Deckers Brands was built on the idea of pursuing passion. That's why we offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
Health and Wellness - There's nothing basic about our comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings. While at work and at play, we aim to support a healthy lifestyle.

$143k - $153k
The salary range posted reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in our Goleta, CA location. Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds who share a passion for our brands. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition and all of the other beautiful parts of your identity.

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