Head of Global Footwear

As our Head of Global Footwear, you’ll be part of the Brand team working closely with brilliant people across the business and reporting into Global Mech & Product Director. You’ll be right at the heart of fast‑moving projects that shape how we show up for our consumers - today and tomorrow.

The Head of Global Footwear leads the strategic direction, commercial performance and long‑term health of the global footwear portfolio across all product families, including Boots, Shoes, Sandals and future growth categories. As the senior leader responsible for shaping the brand’s global product offering, this role ensures that footwear strategy is consumer led, commercially grounded and aligned to long‑term brand ambition.

This role defines the global footwear strategy, inspires product direction, builds portfolio balance, optimises category performance and ensures the global assortment drives revenue, margin, productivity and brand distinctiveness targets set by global merchandising. By partnering closely with Product development, Design, GSC, and global merchandising, the Head of Global Footwear ensures that product decisions are data informed, strategically targeted and globally consistent. Managing product creation critical path, seasonal briefing, sample management and product creation that meets the margin, volume, and commercial need of the business. The role directly influences multiple strategic KPIs including category growth, SKU efficiency, portfolio productivity, lifecycle performance, and margin mix.

Core Accountabilities

• Leading the end-to-end global footwear strategy across categories, defining long-term portfolio direction, segmentation, pricing architecture and growth priorities aligned to brand and commercial goals.
• Directing global product creation and assortment planning, guiding seasonal briefs and ensuring balanced assortments, lifecycle flow and SKU efficiency.
• Integrating consumer insight, cultural trends and competitive intelligence into category strategy, identifying opportunities for innovation, franchise growth and market expansion.
• Providing cross-functional leadership across Merchandising, Design, Product Development and Brand, ensuring creative direction is commercially grounded and supported by strong governance and assortment discipline.
• Leading and developing the global footwear merchandising team while partnering with Go-to-Market teams to communicate strategy, strengthen capability and enable consistent regional execution.

Key Skills & Capabilities

• Deep expertise in global footwear product creation, strategy and assortment planning, with strong understanding of construction, materials, lifecycle and consumer fit considerations.
• Strong strategic and commercial acumen, translating brand ambition and consumer insight into profitable product strategies supported by data-driven analysis.
• Excellent understanding of cultural trends, market dynamics and evolving consumer expectations, identifying long-term category opportunities and innovation.
• Proven leader with the ability to inspire teams and influence senior stakeholders, building strong cross-functional partnerships across Product, Design, Planning, Retail, Digital and Marketing.
• Highly organised and brand-sensitive, balancing creative integrity with commercial outcomes while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement.

At Dr. Martens, we are committed to creating an environment in which we can all be our best and bring our authentic selves to work. We encourage applications, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, or disability. Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on our brand; helping us to speak authentically to our consumers. We strive to develop a business where our people can thrive and feel empowered to express themselves. Because we believe everyone should feel supported and included whatever their role in the Dr. Martens community.