Creative Studio Director (Footwear)

Job Title:CreativeStudio Director

Job Summary:We are seeking a Creative Studio Director Licensed Footwear to lead the vision strategy and execution of our character licensed footwear portfolio. This role serves as the strategic and creative counterpart to our Branded Director with full ownership over the Studio division focused on licensed IP (entertainment animation gaming and character-driven brands).

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for building a best-in-class licensed footwear businessbalancing creative storytelling with operational rigor. The ideal candidate is a seasoned licensing expert in footwear who thrives at the intersection of licensor partnership product innovation and go-to-market execution.

You will oversee the end-to-end studio processfrom line planning and seasonal storytelling to licensor alignment product approvals and calendar managementensuring the team delivers compelling on-brand product on time and at scale. This position reports to the Chief Product Officer.

About GroundUp:Ground Up is a premier footwear manufacturerretainingan integrated portfolio of licensed and owned brands and has grown to be a leading supplier. The companys unique capability to design and translate fashion trends offers a fresh perspective on licensed footwear. GroundUp was created with the vision of fulfilling the need for fun innovative products for the true brand enthusiast. As our product entered the market we found consumers wanting to express themselves and their fandom in new creative ways. Consumers connect with us through our brand partnerships giving them brands they love with a brand they now trust. Ground Up has become a recognizable brand for the whole family that stands for elevated fashion and fun.

We aspire to have our teams embody our core values of:

• Service

• People

• Teamwork

• Opportunity

• Results

• Innovation

• Trust

Key Responsibilities:

Studio Strategy & Licensed Portfolio Leadership

• Develop and execute the creative and commercial strategy for the licensed (character/IP) footwear portfolio.

• Identifywhite-space opportunities across categories consumers and retail tiers to drive incremental growth.

• Serve as a strategic partner to licensors ensuring alignment with brand guidelines while pushing creative boundaries.

• Build seasonal narratives and product direction that elevate licensed storytelling in footwear.

Line Planning & Calendar Ownership

• Own and implement the seasonal and annual product calendar ensuring all milestones and deadlines are met.

• Lead line planning across licenses ensuring balanced assortments aligned to retail needs and consumer demand.

• Establish clear workflows and timelines to improve team efficiency and on-time delivery.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Design:Direct the studio/design team to translate licensed IP into commerciallyviableand innovative footwear.

• Product Development:Partner closely with PD to ensure feasibility quality and cost targets are achieved.

• Licensing:Collaborate with licensing teams to manage approvals submissions and compliance with licensor requirements.

• Sales:Align with Sales to ensure product assortments meet retailer expectations and drivesell-in success.

Operational Excellence

• Streamline studio processes to improve speed organization and cross-functional alignment.

• Drive accountability across teams for hitting deadlines approvals and production milestones.

• Implement tools and systems to support workflow efficiency (Adobe Canva Excel AI platforms etc.).

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead mentor and develop a high-performing studio team.

• Foster a culture of collaboration creativity and accountability.

• Align the team around clear goals priorities and performance expectations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience: 812 years in footwear brand management product development or wholesale leadership.

• Retail Fluency: Deep understanding of the vertical retail landscape (e.g. Target Walmart Nordstrom Specialty Retail).

• Licensing Expertise: Proventrack recordof working with major licensors and adhering to strict brand guidelines.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to turn market data into actionable product concepts.

• LomingerCompetency Focus: Mastery in Managing Vision and Purpose Business Acumen Directing Others and Strategic Agility.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue Growth: Year-over-year increase in footwear division sales.

• Gross Margin:Maintainingprofitability targets across diverse retail tiers.

• Time-to-Market: Improving efficiency in the development-to-production pipeline.

• Brand Health: Successful sell-through rates at key wholesale accounts.

GUP Perks

• Medical Dental Vision 401k plan & access to employee recognition programs.

• Paid vacation holidays Eternal Summer Fridays birthdays off & more!

• Friendly fun creative & collaborative work environment.

• Ground Up International is an equal opportunity employer.

Required Experience:

Director