Sr. Director, Product Development and Merchandising - Performance Running

7OW Skechers USA Inc. II; California (MO); On-site; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Skechers seeks a dynamic senior leader to head the Technical Performance Running Footwear division. You will translate sport insights into innovative products, drive category growth, and align cross-functional teams including design, marketing, and sales.

The role requires a proven track record in footwear product management and senior leadership experience. Based in Southern California, this full-time position offers a competitive compensation package and ongoing innovation in comfort

Qualifications

• 10+ years in footwear product management and category leadership, with emphasis on performance-driven categories.
• Strong technical running footwear background and experience garnering athlete insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and execution for Technical Performance Running Footwear.
• Translate insights into category vision and product priorities.
• Oversee development from concept to market with KPIs like margin and sell-through.
• Align with Product Management on margin, market readiness and brand positioning.
• Inspire and mentor the Product Management team towards Technical Performance goals.

Skills

Footwear strategy

Product leadership

Analytics

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing

Tools

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Lead the strategy and execution of Skechers’ Technical Performance Running Footwear division, translating sport and consumer insights into innovative products that deliver unrivaled comfort and performance for consumers. Drive category growth through cross-functional partnership with design, marketing, and sales. This position will primarily be responsible for leading the strategy and development Technical Running footwear.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Proven track record of delivering pinnacle technical running performance footwear solutions that drove measurable business growth (category expansion, margin improvement, or market share gains).
• Translate insights into strategy: Leverage sport, trend, and consumer data to define category vision and product priorities.
• Strong merchandising background with the ability to build, balance, and position a performance product line that meets both consumer demand and business objectives.
• Lead product creation: Oversee the performance footwear development process from concept to market, ensuring alignment with KPIs (margin, sell-through, category growth, consumer satisfaction).
• Commercial alignment: Balance innovation and commercial viability, working with Product Management to deliver margin requirements, market readiness, and long-term brand positioning.
• Proven ability to lead, galvanize, and inspire high-performing teams with strong leadership IQ, fostering collaboration, accountability, and alignment to shared goals.
• Lead and mentor direct reports on the Product Management team, providing strategic direction, professional development, and clear prioritization to ensure alignment with Technical Performance goals.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to effectively influence and inspire both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Analyze sales reports to ensure achievement of KPI’s and optimize future line planning.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Deep understand of the running consumer and market.
• Advanced analytical skills with strong business acumen.
• Ability to lead initiatives with flexibility to adapt and pivot quickly.
• Capable of leading product development efforts and issues.
• Team-first approach.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Able to work extra hours as needed.
• Ability to travel as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• College degree, preferably in business/marketing.
• 10+ years in footwear product management and category leadership, with emphasis on performance-driven categories.
• Strong technical running footwear background.
• Experience garnering athlete insights and turning them into actionable product briefs.
• Demonstrated success in scaling performance product lines from concept to market.
• The pay range for this position is $225,000-$250,000/yr USD.

About Skechers Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations. Equal Employment Opportunity Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law. Reasonable Accommodation Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing [e-mail]. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

Join our team of innovators, creators, and designers. Skechers, the global leader in comfort technologies, brings together employees from around the globe to deliver stylish products for people of all ages. Our employees are passionate about more than just the products we design, employees – we value community involvement and give back to local communities through a variety of initiatives including Skechers Foundation and Bobs for Dogs. Learn more about who Skechers supports local communities around the world. Stay up to date on our brand, job openings, community involvement, and more via LinkedIn. Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations. From footwear to apparel and accessories, Skechers has a product for you and your family. Learn more about our many product offerings here.