Sr. Manager, Product Development - UGG Footwear

UGG; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 137,500 - 185,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay & bonuses

Financial planning & wellbeing

Paid time off

Discounts & extras

Growth & development

Health & wellness

Job summary

Deckers Brands, home of UGG Footwear, seeks a Senior Manager, Product Development to lead end-to-end footwear creation, align fit/quality/cost-to-value, and drive strategic development initiatives across global teams.

Based in Goleta, CA (Hybrid), you will manage a PD team, align USA and Asia practices, and guide cross-functional decision making to deliver premium consumer outcomes while developing talent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• SATRA footwear certifications a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in the footwear industry.
• 5+ years in a management role within a global organization.
• Advanced expertise in footwear product creation, specifications, and construction.
• Strong experience in pattern engineering, tooling, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to leverage data and analytics to drive development decisions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe applications.
• Proficient in FPLM (or similar PLM systems).
• Expertise with development tools (calipers, durometer, Brannock, last tools, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex development pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development execution across categories.
• Drive global alignment between USA and Asia PD teams to establish consistent practices.
• Guide cross-functional triad decision-making to mitigate risks.
• Establish structured frameworks for evaluating design concepts and construction approaches.
• Influence product decisions to balance cost, quality, and performance.
• Partner with Product Engineering to evaluate fit and commercialization readiness.

Skills

Leadership & team management

Data analytics

Footwear product creation

Pattern engineering

Tooling & manufacturing

MS Office & Adobe

PLM systems (FPLM)

Development tools (calipers, Brannock)

Problem-solving

Project prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

SATRA footwear certifications a plus

Tools

FPLM PLM system

Calipers & Brannock tools

Durometer

Job description

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: Sr. Manager, Product Development - UGG Footwear

Reports to: Sr. Director, Product Development & Engineering - UGG Footwear

Location: Goleta, CA (Hybrid)

Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday – Thursday

The Role

As Senior Manager, Product Development for UGG Footwear, you’ll be the subject matter expert in the end-to-end footwear product creation process, leading development strategies to deliver product excellence. You’ll drive global product development execution for Women’s footwear, ensuring alignment to UGG standards for fit, comfort, quality, and cost-to-value performance. Operating within a matrixed organization, you’ll manage team performance, establish development priorities, and partner cross-functionally to optimize product creation processes, mitigate risk, and deliver commercially viable products that meet consumer expectations.

Your Impact

• Lead end-to-end product development execution across categories, ensuring alignment to product excellence standards (fit, comfort, quality, cost-to-value)
• Drive global alignment between USA and Asia PD teams to establish consistent development practices and execution standards
• Guide cross-functional triad decision-making to mitigate risks and ensure efficient progression through the critical path
• Establish structured frameworks for evaluating design concepts, materials, last specifications, and construction approaches
• Influence product decisions to balance cost, quality, and performance, ensuring premium consumer outcomes
• Partner with Product Engineering to evaluate fit, wear testing, and commercialization readiness, resolving issues proactively
• Manage and develop a team of product developers, setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring accountability to business objectives
• Provide coaching, technical guidance, and performance feedback to elevate individual and team capability
• Build organizational strength through talent development, succession planning, and fostering a high-performance culture
• Analyze product performance, defective returns, and consumer feedback to identify root causes and drive improvements
• Implement process enhancements and standard methodologies to strengthen development efficiency and consistency
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies, materials, and construction techniques to improve product and process outcomes

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• SATRA footwear certifications a plus
• 10+ years of experience in the footwear industry
• 5+ years in a management role within a global organization
• Advanced expertise in footwear product creation, specifications, and construction
• Strong experience in pattern engineering, tooling, and manufacturing processes
• Proven ability to leverage data and analytics to drive development decisions
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe applications
• Proficient in FPLM (or similar PLM systems)
• Expertise with development tools (calipers, durometer, Brannock, last tools, etc.)
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex development pipelines

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.

$137,500.00 - $185,600.00

The salary range posted reflects the estimated minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in Goleta, California. 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 the other beautiful parts of your identity.