Senior Manager, Development Footwear

Role Purpose

Lead the footwear product development process for assigned Category Units by bridging the gap between design vision and manufacturing reality. This role serves as the critical link between HQ and Tier 1 supply partners, ensuring a seamless transition from prototype to production. You will balance high-volume price point project management with the leadership and mentorship of the production creation tirade.

Key Responsibilities

70% Product Development & Execution

• Vision Translation: Convert design concepts and consumer insights into functional, marketable products that align with category strategies

• Engineering & Quality: Create workable prototypes that balance aesthetics, function, and manufacturability while strictly adhering to quality and testing standards
• Project Management: Own the end-to-end development lifecycle, ensuring all milestones—including BuyRead and BOM accuracy—are met according to the product calendar
• Supplier Collaboration: Manage direct development with Tier 1 partners, fostering a results-oriented relationship to resolve critical technical or business issues
• Innovation: Drive the integration of new materials and components into finished footwear
• Financial Accountability: Take ownership of model-level costing, collaborating with Design and Marketing to hit GP% targets without compromising product integrity
• Data Integrity: Oversee technical package creation and PLM systems to ensure seamless information flow between HQ and suppliers

30% People Management & Leadership

• Team Culture: Foster a collaborative, high-performance environment built on teamwork and shared goals
• Performance Management: Set clear objectives, evaluate competencies, and conduct regular performance reviews for direct reports
• Resource Allocation: Strategically assign projects based on team capacity, experience level, and product complexity
• Mentorship: Coach and mentor team members to elevate their technical expertise and project management skills
• Strategic Input: Partner with the Senior Manager and Director of Development to identify operational improvements and scale team responsibilities

Key Relationships

• Internal: Marketing, Design, Advanced Development, Sourcing, Costing, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain
• External: Tier 1 and T2 Supply Partners

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Technical Expertise: Advanced knowledge of footwear engineering, material construction, and testing protocols
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of product costing and the ability to negotiate effectively
• Leadership: Proven ability to manage, motivate, and develop a professional team
• Problem Solving: Proactive approach to anticipating roadblocks and developing solutions in a fast-paced environment
• Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills; ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating ambiguity, risk, and organizational change

Requirements

• Education: Four-year college or university degree
• Experience: 5–7 years of leading progressive experience in the athletic footwear industry (Development, Design, or Marketing)
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience in people management or team supervision
• Track Record: A proven history of successful product launches and technical accomplishment in footwear
• Logistics: Fluent in English, proficient in MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint; willing to travel domestically and internationally as needed