Footwear Product Developer

Duties and Responsibilities:

To work closely with the CD and the designer, and all international suppliers.

Working as key liaison for product development, material development, sample tracking & fitting.

Responsible for getting prototypes and samples executed to reflect the concept and design in mind, in quality, construction, materials, fit and style.

Research new technologies, components and manufacturing techniques suitable for footwear manufacturing

Have a keen interest in sustainability within the footwear industry

To take responsibility for samples, liaising with the suppliers to create prototypes and samples at workable prices and within specific deadlines for all footwear and accessories.

Planning, detailing, specifying all designs/commissioning and tracking the development prototypes/ultimately approval salesmen samples

Attend product meetings from first prototype to shipment samples.

Liaise daily with factories and agent in Portugal

To upward manage a busy Creative Director who works part-time

Regularly communicate updates effectively within the company.

Be an active part of ongoing brand identity development and evolution

Control of courier costs for samples within company policy and procedure

Work with Shoe technologist and CD to document sample fitting and correction on design and constructions.

To undertake any other reasonable duties identified by the Creative Director- travel to Portugal & Italy may be part of thisRequired skills and experience:

6 - 8 years experience as a fully fledged Footwear developer, within a supply and manufacture environment.

Proficient in Illustrator & Photoshop

Degree level qualification in a related design field

Have experience internationally

High level of technical understanding in footwear

Very familiar with constructions, materials, manufacturing processes, commercialization and offshore sourcing

Has a keen interest in past and future trends, including evolving footwear technologies.

Excellent work ethic with the ability to work to tight deadlines and upward manage busy Creative Director

Excellent organisational skills, planning and communication.

Ability to see a product from design to delivery, following it through the different stages of the critical path with the CD and DesignerIMPORTANT NOTICE

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I hereby consent for Talented Recruitment to process my personal information as part of the recruitment process. Talented Recruitment shall take all reasonable measures to protect the personal information of applicants and for the purpose of this disclaimer "personal information" shall be defined as detailed in the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA").