Lead the development of forward-thinking footwear innovations 22–46 months ahead of production. Drive technical feasibility, scalability, and cost efficiency through cross-functional collaboration with design, marketing, and external suppliers while ensuring adherence to performance and quality standards.
Responsibilities
- Lead the creation and implementation of innovative designs, materials, components, and manufacturing processes into viable, market-ready products.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, marketing, and creative direction, and coordinate with advanced creation experts as needed.
- Define and refine testing protocols to assess the performance, durability, and functionality of new concepts.
- Ensure all materials, components, and finished products meet established performance, safety, and quality benchmarks.
- Escalate and resolve quality-related issues with senior stakeholders when necessary.
- Share knowledge across teams and identify opportunities to apply new technologies across product lines.
- Analyze cost drivers and develop transparent cost models for new innovations in partnership with sourcing and costing teams.
- Oversee the complete transfer of technical specifications to manufacturing partners.
- Lead iterative product development cycles and provide technical guidance based on supplier feedback.
- Monitor project timelines and deliver regular status updates to leadership.
- Assess the maturity of breakthrough innovations and help define handover requirements to downstream teams.
- Manage the transition from concept to commercial readiness, supporting complex projects as needed.
- Drive innovations to market by evaluating purpose-fit, technical feasibility, scalability, and cost efficiency.
- Provide specialized development resources, including CAD support and prototyping capabilities.
- Support cost optimization strategies to align development with target pricing.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or footwear technology.
- At least 8 years of progressive experience in athletic footwear product development.
- Demonstrated success in footwear innovation and development projects.
- Familiarity with emerging materials, components, manufacturing methods, and conceptual trends.
- Experience managing project-based initiatives in a complex environment.
- Ability to make decisions and adapt in uncertain or fast-changing conditions.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with strong creative problem-solving skills.
- Proven project management abilities and experience working across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent communication and negotiation capabilities.
- Strategic thinking and long-term planning skills.
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally based on business demands.
- Capacity to manage multiple projects independently with minimal supervision.
- Solid engineering and technical background in footwear systems.
- Knowledge of wear testing and physical product evaluation methods.
Tech Stack
Product Data Management (PDM) systems, Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, MS Office suite
Team
Cross-functional collaboration with innovation, design, marketing, and creative direction teams, as well as external suppliers and sourcing partners.
Additional Information
- This role focuses on innovations 22–46 months ahead of the inline calendar, bridging concept development with commercial readiness.
- Emphasis is placed on scalability, includi
