Sr. Manager, Product Development - Footwear

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

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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…