WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

The Sr Footwear Product Developer partners with PHK Product Development, PMO Product Engineering, Material Development and PCC (Product Creation Center), and closely work with PMO and factory functional teams to develop new creation projects from brief to ready for commercialization, with a focus on performance, meeting the design intent, optimizing consumer value and sustainability efforts.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a SR Footwear Product Developer, an advanced creator with deep understanding of the product lifecycle, being able to work on innovative and complex projects, with experience of performance models as a plus joining our Product Development team in Guangzhou, China, where you can grow, think, dream and create, bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game. You can lead innovative, complex projects and models with great project management skills, effective teamwork, collaborative and influencing skills. You can blend deep technical knowledge with creative instincts, acting as the bridge between aesthetic vision and manufacturing reality. You can interpret lab data, navigate complex timelines, and evaluate risks before they become roadblocks. lead with clarity, communicate with purpose, and thrive in environments where innovation meets execution.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, other footwear related and leadership related training is preferable.

• Min 2-4 years combined project management experience relevant product- related role.

• Seasoned project manager with critical thinking & analytical skills towards problem solving.

• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills with an ability to clearly articulate goals and objectives.

• Strong influencing skills and ability to champion complex projects both cross functionally and vertically within the organization.

• Strong understanding of product construction, materials, and the product creation life cycle.

• Demonstrates intermediate-level understanding of Product knowledge and skills:

  • of footwear pattern engineering, lasts, tooling or manufacturing processes.

  • to identify & suggest cost effective solutions.

  • of materials, test methods, and properties and application.

  • to proficiently read and interpret technical drawings, sketches and/or 3D digital files.

  • of general footwear chemistry.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides project and process management for converting a project brief and a two-dimensional design rendering into a three-dimensional sample that meets the needs of the team and the consumer and that can be successfully and profitably commercialized and produced.

• Independently leading the development process, including sampling and prototyping across geographies, to achieve the ultimate goal of on-time manufacturability of quality and crafted, proven and tested, sustainable and cost effective product that ultimately meets the performance criteria and original design intent.

• Creates and revises appropriate documentation for assigned products; ensures all appropriate development documentation is maintained; identifies and addresses key issues and challenges in construction/manufacturing and plans accordingly to deliver proven and tested products.

• Monitors and communicates progress and challenges throughout the product testing process to meet product integrity requirements.

• Keeps abreast of market trends, category goals, new technology and consumer needs throughout the development process and engages appropriately to ensure projects are completed within corporate guidelines and goals for all facets of product creation.

• Recommends and specifies to product creation team the material, component and construction options to meet key features and performance goals.

• Applies a high understanding of footwear technical knowledge and 3D digital technical tools, including patterns, mold design, chemical, materials, costing, and manufacturing to appropriately achieve project objectives at a high level of efficiency and accountability.     

• Serves the athlete* through in-depth knowledge of what they need.  Driving the team to decisions with consumer first mindset.