Head Of Design And Product Development- Sports Shoes

Job Title: Head of Design & Product Development Sports Footwear Location: Gurugram, India Experience Required: Minimum 10–15 Years Compensation: Up to 50 LPA (Negotiable for the right candidate) Industry Background: Sports Footwear / Fashion Footwear / Activewear Brands Role Overview: We are hiring a dynamic and visionary Head of Design & Product Development to lead our sports footwear category. Based in Gurugram, this role is critical for driving innovation, leading creative direction, and executing trend-driven yet performance-oriented collections. The candidate will collaborate closely with design, development, merchandising, and sourcing teams to launch collections that meet both brand vision and commercial goals. Key Responsibilities: Design Leadership & Strategy Define and execute seasonal product strategies aligned with market trends and consumer insights. Lead the ideation, design, and development process across sports and athleisure footwear segments. Establish design standards that reflect both performance functionality and fashion-forward aesthetics. Team Management Manage and mentor a team of footwear designers, developers, and technical experts. Create a culture of creativity, efficiency, and accountability within the team. Innovation & Development Oversee material selection, component sourcing, and construction techniques. Coordinate with R&D and engineering teams to bring innovation into product design. Product Lifecycle Management Drive end-to-end product development from concept through prototyping to commercialization. Collaborate with merchandising and production teams to ensure timely launches. Vendor & Cross-functional Collaboration Work with domestic and international suppliers and manufacturing partners. Ensure quality, costing, and scalability are built into all product lines. Key Requirements: Degree in Footwear Design, Product Design, Fashion Technology, or related field. 10–15 years of experience in footwear design & development; minimum 5 years in leadership. Strong design portfolio in sports or performance footwear. Proficiency in CAD tools (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D tools, etc.). Strong knowledge of lasts, outsole design, upper construction, and material behavior. Understanding of the Indian and global sportswear consumer landscape. Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Preferred Industry Background: Reputed Sportswear Brands (e.g., Puma, Adidas, Nike, Campus, Sparx, RedTape Sports) Fashion/Sports Footwear OEM/ODM companies Startups in activewear or athleisure segments