KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Product Management
• Product Design
• Pattern, Tooling, Color & Materials, Costing, Planning, Testing & Quality
• Sourcing
• Factories
• Digital Creation
• Legal
• Athlete Services

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Expert knowledge of the footwear creation process from concept brief to shelf incl. last, pattern, construction, tooling, testing, knowledge of sport-specific movement, biomechanics
• Strong communication and influencing skills, ability to convey complex content to large diverse audience
• English language proficiency required
• International and domestic travel as required (approx. 5-10%)
• Growth mindset and continuous learning
• Strategic thinking
• Business acumen

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in manufacturing, engineering, biomechanics, sports science or business, or technical degree as footwear technician
• Alternatively, combination of relevant education, experience, and training
• Minimum 4 years of relevant work exprience in footwear product development across multiple business units
• First experience in managing a team is an advantage

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product development teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.
As Senior Manager Development Footwear, you will lead and manage a team of product developers to complete the footwear product creation process for the assigned business unit (BU). You will actively monitor development calendars to ensure deadlines, costing KPI and quality standards are met. You will act as an advocate for footwear product integrity by working closely with business units, designers, suppliers, liaison offices (LO) to uphold quality standards and achieve business unit strategy and targets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the (Senior) Director Development Footwear to implement and develop the strategic BU direction and ensure cross-functional alignment within the Creation teams.
• Ensure achievement of goals and objectives set by the BU through partnership with Marketing and Design.
• Identify new business opportunities and drive key product and/or process innovations. Provide input to short, mid and long term planning and budgeting
• Work with Innovation and Materials Development, and support research into new technologies and materials and communicate to Design and Marketing on new potential development options.
• Manage the material development and costing related aspects in cooperation with the functional teams to ensure the BU objectives are met and that strategies (i.e. material tool box strategy, costing framework) set forth by the Functional Heads of Material Development and Costing are supported.
• Supervise the costing process in alignment with HQ Costing, and assume responsibility in alignment and cooperation with BU and Design to meet category margin targets for your area of responsibility.
• Ensure continuous product and process improvement with emphasis on leading and Right First Time development of products in accordance with the operation calendar
• Be responsible for Buy Ready performance through strong interfaces with T1, Quality Assurance, Sourcing and Product Marketing
• Manage your team’s budget to yearly targets as set.
• Manage workload and organizational efficiency with the support of the performance management team and data
• Allocate/delegate the different products/projects to the respective development teams considering experience, product complexity and workload
• Work with Director of Development FW to support and develop the T1, Sourcing and QA strategies.
• Provide team with clear direction, projects and targets that are aligned with business needs and global operations objectives.
• Create a motivational and supportive work environment in which employees are challenged, coached, trained and provided with performance feedback and career opportunities.
• Take ownership for the entire development process for assigned products and/or projects with an emphasis on quality product development and timely completion of all tasks in accordance with the applicable product creation calendar