Manager, Product Creation Footwear, Sportwear

Position: Manager, Product Creation
Purpose
Leads a Creation Hub across a broad portfolio of silhouettes on topics related to technical, product constructions, materials, process-oriented, speed to market, driving efficiency and delivering margin expectations. Drives the process and is responsible for initiating and managing projects. The role requires strong cross functional managing abilities and collaboration including interactions with Design, T1, T2, Product Marketing and Sourcing.
Key Accountabilities

• Close relationship and working with T1 generating new working practices to advance delivery against timelines
• Develops and improves processes with a goal to drive leading product process with speed and efficiency. Always innovating with speed and flexibility
• Drives collaboration with Global Strategic Hub, Design, Development, Sourcing, T1/T2 Supplier
• Manages and develops relations with T2 supply base to support localization, speed to market, meeting material pricing targets and materials quality
• Innovates and drives cross category product constructions, tech lifestyle, comfort, contemporary sportswear executions and solutions
• Generates and provides technical support and training for junior members within the organization
• Researches and formulates options to deliver price/value whilst maintaining core product brief needs
• Devises and drives the product process and leverages category sourcing strategy to deliver new material and design innovation while meeting gross margin/ profitability objectives
• Ensures all product milestones are achieved in a fast paced creation process and establishes better working practices to advance processes
• Nurtures, guides and challenges cross functional departments to ensure product excellence

Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Skill in MS Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Extensive footwear product knowledge scope across a variety of silhouettes with experience in development, working knowledge of product marketing, costing, materials and how to work best with T1 and T2 suppliers
• Thrive in a fast paced product creation environment
• Ability to work with and influence all levels of the organization as well as aligning external partners with CORE strategy (factory, suppliers)
• Comprehensive knowledge of shoe building from design sketch phase to ex-factory
• Ability to travel internationally for consumer trend research and internal meetings and presentations
• Knowledge of footwear concepts in construction/development a necessity
• Seeks to redefine processes and find new and innovative angles to product creation with an emphasis on speed
• Good numerical skills with the ability to negotiate
• Ability to effectively present to groups, including members of all organizational levels
• Strong business acumen in channel distribution, net sales, margin, profit and inventory (commercially driven trade channel)

Qualifications (Minimum Required Education And Experience)

• Minimum 5 years related experience
• College or university degree
• Experience in Footwear Development, Sourcing a necessity and marketing an advantage
• Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for degree