BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income. The company is deeply footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774. With around 6200 employees worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK is the largest employer in the German footwear industry. To ensure our quality standards, we produce over 95% of our products in Germany and source more than 90% of our materials and components from Europe. The BIRKENSTOCK Group is headquartered in Linz am Rhein and maintains several locations in Germany, as well as sales offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

Join us in shaping the future at our location in Cologne as a

Senior Footwear Designer (m/f/d)

YOUR SHOES TO FILL:

• Seasonal Design Direction – Lead seasonal creative ideation and product creation strategies, ensuring alignment with brand DNA, market trends, and consumer needs.
• Footwear Collection Design – Own a category within the range, managing the end-to-end design process from ideation to final product delivery, while meeting timelines and adhering to briefs.
• Outsole and Component Design – Design, spec, and communicate technical designs for outsoles and components with precision and clarity.
• Innovative Design Development – Develop advanced, forward-thinking designs that drive the brand's evolution in style, technology, and functionality.
• Internal Presentations – Lead internal presentations of seasonal collections to key stakeholders, gather feedback, and iterate designs through the sign-off process.

YOUR WALK OF LIFE:

• Bachelor’s degree in footwear design, industrial design, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in footwear design, with at least 1 year in a leadership role.

• Proven track record of creating innovative, commercially successful footwear designs.

• Basic knowledge of footwear biomechanic principles. 

• Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and technical construction.

• Proficient in design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, etc).

• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

• Fluent in English and/or German is a plus

WE OFFER:

BIRKENSTOCK Product Development division is located in Cologne and Portugal and offers you all the advantages of a successful, fast growing, global company: dynamic work environment, considerable design freedom, authentic and open corporate culture and excellent development opportunities. It is the hub for the exchange with international creative talents and the innovative restaging of designs from a legendary heritage brand. A considerable range of excellent benefits await this position as well.

If this sounds as exciting to you, we are looking forward to receiving your online application, stating your earliest entry date and salary expectations! For questions regarding the position contact Ada Bralewska.