Senior Director, Footwear Development and Strategy; Hybrid

Overview

Great brands reflect culture. The best ones help shape it. At Foot Locker, we’re rooted in sport, powered by style, and driven by the communities that move both. From Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker to Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos, our brands sit at the intersection of sport, style, and self‑expression. As part of the DICK’S Sporting Goods family, you’re backed by the resources, reach, and career opportunities of a world‑class sports company.

That unleashes Foot Locker to keep pushing forward with the agility and edge that define the brand. We’re looking for great people who want to influence culture and the generation that is shaping what’s next. Whether you’re building strategy, shaping innovations, or creating unforgettable customer moments, you’ll contribute to decisions and experiences that define our brands’ impact in the communities we serve.

Come change the game with us.

This role is HYBRID out of our NYC office. Expectations for hybrid in‑office schedule are three days a week, typically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. At this time, Foot Locker will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization, or offer any immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1B, F‑1 OPT, F‑1 STEM OPT, F‑1 CPT, J‑1, TN, or another type of work authorization).

Own the future of sneakers! Our Senior Director, Footwear Development and Strategy role lives at the intersection of product, culture, and innovation—driving global footwear strategy, shaping trend narratives, and bringing heat to market through exclusive drops and high‑impact collaborations. From concept to launch, you’ll turn consumer insights and cultural cues into product that resonates, connecting brands, creators, and communities across the globe.

You’ll lead the charge on storytelling through footwear—building pipelines of must‑have product, managing key partnerships, and delivering moments that move the culture forward. This is for a plugged‑in leader who knows the game, understands the hustle behind the hype, and thrives on creating what’s next in sneaker and streetwear culture.

• Develop and adhere to strict process checkpoints both internally and externally, inclusive of formal expectations.
• Curate bi‑annual trend positions, specific to footwear, with clear deliverables, to share both internally and externally. Interface with apparel development team to ensure connectivity.
• Act as a liaison between internal partners and vendors to promote more cohesive partnerships.
• Understand and embrace lifecycle management, inclusive of incubation, launch, sustain and reload periods.
• Create, define, and partner with vendors on new opportunities. Inclusive of new products and technologies, new marketing opportunities, new incubation, and collaboration strategies.
• Create, facilitate, maintain, and attend routine and regular meetings with brand partners. Foster clear expectations and deliverables.
• Prepare detailed recaps after key vendor checkpoints.
• Develop best in class relationships both internally and externally.
• Host routine meetings with merchant SRDs at the banner levels to ensure continuity.
• Foster best in class global connectivity.
• Aggregate and cultivate all SMU work across all global banners.
• Manage distinction targets.
• Support 3‑year forecasting by brand.
• Attend weekly recap meetings at the banner level.
• Aggregate global forecasts for the Chief Merchandising Officer as needed.
• Create and upkeep a global calendar against SMU projects.
• Manage annual product events and evergreen platforms.
• Provide visibility as needed to internal marketing partners.
• Create and adhere to a vetting process to evaluate any new brands for consideration.
• Manage any 3rd party licensing needs, both vendor‑led partnerships or owned partnerships.
• Tackle ad‑hoc projects related to product needs.

• Immense knowledge of and passion for sneaker and streetwear culture, fashion, sports, music, art, and technology.
• Established credibility in the sneaker community.
• Connections to creators, brands, and retailers across youth…