Footwear Product Developer

Carvela, deeply rooted in Italian heritage, leads the way in premium accessories with shoes and bags designed in the heart of Milan by women, for women. Each product reflects our commitment to exceptional design and comfort, with every collection thoughtfully designed. Our brand is shaped by timeless style and a design philosophy that empowers women of all ages to feel their best. Made with high-quality materials and shaped by Italian-inspired silhouettes, our collections are created to work as hard as the women who wear them.

We are looking for an experienced Footwear Technologist, ideally with a background in manufacturing and sourcing of premium women’s footwear and leather goods. A thorough knowledge of footwear development and manufacturing is required.

• Support the Sourcing Team by maintaining data regarding supplier quality issues and ensuring that records are maintained and updated.
• Facilitate raw material and sample testing and communicate the results to internal stakeholders.
• Help to collate the data on leather sourcing and volumes to provide the Leather Working Group.
• Access the internal order tracking system to advise the Head of Sourcing on shipment schedules, so the resources in Asia can be applied to the right factories.
• Support cost negotiations and work closely with brand partners to ensure prices and margins are achieved.
• Work proactively with the UK team and Asia Supply Chain team to take appropriate action on production schedules and material approvals.
• Send samples off for testing and follow up on quality-related issues.
• Carry out regular store visits to report on quality standards.
• Product data input on the required systems.
• Liaise with DC QC team to ensure that products are inspected appropriately.
• Investigate quality issues, find solutions and report findings to the QA Technical manager.
• Ensure traceability of confirmation samples into the warehouse is maintained, and that you have oversight of the DC inspection process.
• Ensure all damaged goods, manufacturing faults, and transit damages are processed in an appropriate manner and that all costs are recharged to responsible parties through the correct process.
• Ensure international compliance documentation is accessible in the central system to prevent shipping delays.

Previous experience in footwear production or sourcing is essential. The candidate should have experience in women’s premium fashion footwear, be inquisitive and confident, and enjoy researching and summarising information on ad-hoc projects. Project management skills are necessary, with the ability to manage multiple areas of work and ensure deadlines are met and work is delivered to a high standard. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required.

We offer a competitive basic salary, pension and life assurance, enviable discounts, gym discounts, and summer hours with a 3pm Friday finish. We’re an energetic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work-life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford Street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop-ups, our retail partners include some of the world’s most famous department stores.

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