Head of Product Development (m/w/d)
Core
End-to-end footwear product development from concept to production-ready shoe, managing factories, samples, and quality in China.
Role type
Senior leadership footwear product development head
Builds
Footwear collections for an international brand
Domain
Footwear manufacturing and supply chain management
Required skills
Footwear construction expertise, China factory management, sampling and fitting, quality control, supplier negotiation, production timeline management, risk identification, trend analysis
Preferred skills
Leadership of product development teams, international supplier network, high travel readiness, technical problem-solving
Technologies
Footwear construction tools, sampling software, quality management systems
Responsibilities
Oversee entire product development process from concept to production release, lead and develop the product development team, manage direct collaboration with factories and suppliers in China, handle sampling, fittings, material selection, and quality standards, ensure timely and cost-effective development completion, troubleshoot quality and production issues, travel frequently to China for on-site problem resolution, coordinate with design, merchandising, and quality teams, optimize products and production processes, establish development standards, identify process risks, monitor footwear trends
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with leadership responsibilities