PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (FOOTWEAR)

The Product Development Manager (Footwear) will oversee the entire product creation cycle, from initial design concept and tech pack receipt to final commercialization. This role bridges the gap between Design, Sourcing, and Production, ensuring that all footwear products meet the brand’s aesthetic, quality, cost, and delivery standards. The ideal candidate possesses deep technical knowledge of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes, along with strong leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Creation & Development

• Concept to Reality: Transform 2D design concepts, sketches, and tech packs into 3D physical commercial samples.
• Technical Execution: Review and refine lasts, patterns, outsoles, and material specifications to ensure optimal fit, comfort, and manufacturability.
• Sample Management: Oversee the development of prototypes, fit samples, and salesman samples (SMS), ensuring they hit critical calendar deadlines.

2. Costing & Margin Optimization

• Target Costing: Work closely with the Costing/Sourcing team to analyze Bill of Materials (BOM) and labor costs, ensuring products meet target margins.
• Value Engineering: Proactively suggest alternative materials or construction methods to optimize costs without compromising the product's aesthetic or quality.

3. Supplier & Factory Collaboration

• Vendor Relations: Partner with tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, commercialization centers, and footwear factories to track development progress.
• Troubleshooting: Address and resolve technical execution issues during the development phase to prevent bottlenecks in mass production.

4. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of development technicians, pattern makers, and coordinators.
• Timeline Alignment: Maintain the seasonal development calendar, ensuring cross-functional teams (Design, Merchandising, Production) are aligned on milestones.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Technology, Fashion/Product Design, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in footwear product development, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial or supervisory role.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of footwear construction (e.g., vulcanized, cemented, strobel), last making, mold development, and material properties (leather, textiles, synthetics, foam).
• Proficiency in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems and Excel. Familiarity with 2D/3D CAD software (Rhino, Roman Cadillac, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Strong knowledge of international physical/chemical testing standards for footwear.

Soft Skills & Language:

• Language: Excellent command of English (both written and spoken) to communicate with global brands/designers. Ability to speak Mandarin or Korean is a huge advantage.
• Competencies: Strong problem-solving mindset, sharp attention to detail, and excellent negotiation skills.