Senior Product Developer, Footwear

About the position

The Senior Footwear Developer will manage and execute the footwear development process, working with a cross-functional product creation team from the collection of insights through commercialization to deliver products on-time, that exceed consumer expectations. The role requires knowledge of the total footwear construction process including outsole/midsole drawing, pattern engineering, material construction and properties, and costing. Other critical responsibilities include understanding manufacturing capabilities, anticipating issues, problem solving, and timely resolution.

Responsibilities

• Drive assigned seasonal development from line start to commercialization to achieve on time buy ready.
• Concentrate workload on medium to high complexity projects with exposure to increasingly complex projects, including new materials or platforms.
• Manage pre-costing and seasonal cost analysis and problem solving on all assigned projects.
• Lead product related meetings including design hand-off meetings and tear-down meetings.
• Drive seasonal development of leather and non-leather materials for seasonal projects.
• Maintain and continue to develop competitive intelligence and market awareness.
• Work with PM to understand distribution channel, target consumer, competitive brands, and product.
• Plan and execute product development according to the seasonal critical dates that lead to on-time delivery of samples.
• Recommend and specify to product team the material, component, and construction options to meet pricing targets and product's functional goals.
• Assure product performance integrity through product testing (physical and field testing).
• Collaborate with Research, Design, Development, Engineering, Marketing, Material and Costing team to show options that meet the criteria for the category based on material performance data.
• Create and build a knowledge base and stay informed about vendor capabilities and performance, factory relationships, quality issues, materials pricing, and lead times.
• Ensure the timely and effective management and maintenance of product development databases and processes for tracking prototypes, samples, specifications, and materials data from concept through commercialization.
• Maintain active role through ongoing communication with vendor and sourcing partners and product development resources to assure adherence to critical date schedules.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 5+ successful years' of experience leading the development of footwear projects.
• Proven ability to lead and influence in a collaborative, cross-functional groups without command/control to meet strategic objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to develop highly productive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an advanced ability to communicate new ideas, concepts and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
• Keen attention to detail in planning, organization and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture.
• Travel to overseas manufacturing facilities 2 - 3 times per year to manage problem solving of seasonal development projects.
• Quantitative and PC skills, PLM experience preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
• 401(k) with company match
• Bonus incentive plans
• Team member discount on Ariat merchandise