Footwear Technologist

The role ensures timely delivery of footwear ranges, guaranteeing that styles meet technical, quality and safety specifications and are fit for purpose. The Footwear Technologist supports the Technical Manager in maintaining departmental quality standards, collaborates with design and buying to develop a commercially viable range, and leads supplier technical activities to achieve the brand’s fit, performance and cost targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Review & Research
  • Conduct seasonal block and last reviews in collaboration with buying and design teams.
  • Maintain and update the footwear specification library (lasts, patterns, sole specifications, material cards) using customer feedback and market benchmarking.
  • Analyse market trends, competitor footwear construction and material innovations to inform style and performance improvements.
  • Review competitor footwear to maintain an innovative, profitable and on‑trend range while protecting fit integrity.
• Product Development & Quality Assurance
  • Manage end‑to‑end footwear development from concept through proto, fit, pre‑production and production sign‑off, ensuring consistency in construction and commercial viability.
  • Produce clear, timely tech packs for footwear (last references, lasted patterns, uppers, insocks, midsoles, outsoles, heel units, box/pack specs).
  • Provide accurate fit comments at fittings (upper fit, toe room, last shape, heel counter) and secure gold seals on schedule.
  • Identify technical risks at sign‑off (lasting, sole bonding, stitchline tolerances, heel attachment) and work with buyers/suppliers to mitigate.
  • Specify and monitor footwear testing requirements (flex tests, abrasion, slip resistance, sole bond strength, water resistance, ageing/colourfastness) and interpret results to guide corrective actions.
  • Maintain product testing and compliance records and coordinate with internal/external labs.
  • Liaise with overseas QA teams to maintain brand expectations through training and factory audits focused on lasting, sole attachment, injection.
• Strategy & Supplier Management
  • Lead root‑cause analysis for footwear returns (delamination, outsole separation, stitch failure, poor lasting) and develop corrective action plans with suppliers to reduce recurrence.
  • Support sourcing decisions for lasts, sole manufacturers, midsole suppliers and material mills to balance quality, cost and continuity.
  • Conduct factory technical process audits (lasting lines, cementing, molding, vulcanizing, stitchdown) and recommend process improvements.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with footwear suppliers, last makers and sole houses; ensure suppliers are aware of technical, legal and ethical requirements.
• Range Planning & Build
  • Work closely with buying and merchandising to ensure styles are prototyped, fitted and sealed per the critical path.
  • Ensure suppliers comply with customer technical specifications and corporate ethical/technical audit standards to avoid critical path delays.
  • Confirm all active suppliers meet technical standards and that necessary audits, process qualifications and tooling approvals are in place.
  • Maintain accurate grading rules, size conversion tables and pack/box specifications to prevent production inconsistencies.
• Leadership & People Management
  • Line manage and motivate technical team members where applicable; provide clear communication, coaching and development.
  • Conduct performance reviews, objective setting and regular one‑to‑ones.
  • Champion continuous improvement and adoption of relevant footwear technologies or CAD tools.
  • Act as a role model for company culture and lead by example on quality, safety and commercial accountability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Technology, Footwear Design, Materials Science, Product Technology or a related discipline (preferred).
• Minimum 3 years’ footwear technical experience (development, production and supplier management).
• Experience with offshore footwear suppliers is essential.
• Demonstrable product knowledge across a wide range of footwear constructions (cemented, lasted, vulcanized, molded, injection/direct attach, welted).
• Experience in value retail or multi‑product footwear environments is advantageous.
• Proven track record in issuing timely fit comments, securing gold seals and managing customer feedback/returns.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of footwear construction, lasts, patternmaking for uppers, insole/midsole/outsole engineering and materials (leather, suede, synthetics, knitted uppers, EVA/PU midsoles, rubber/TPU outsoles).
• Familiarity with PLM/ERP systems.
• Strong knowledge of footwear testing methods and relevant industry standards (e.g., SATRA/ASTM/EN ISO guidance) and ability to interpret requirements for commercial compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and stakeholder management skills across design, buying, suppliers and QA teams.
• Effective time management, organization and ability to work under pressure to meet critical path deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and negotiation skills with commercial awareness and focus on cost‑effective solutions.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Other

• Willingness to travel overseas regularly to supplier factories for technical audits, fittings and development meetings.
• Commitment to ethical sourcing, product safety and continuous improvement.

As an equal opportunity employer, we shall consider all applicants regardless of gender, age, religion, marital status, race, sexual orientation, disability, disease, pregnancy or trade union and/or political affiliation, and disregard all factors deemed inappropriate by local law and the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.