Senior Product Developer (12 Months Maternity Cover)

Department:            Product Development

Reports to:              Head of Product

Our Values:

• Every day the energy, creativity and passion of Manolo permeates through our business.
• We believe in the artist and the artisan; we are innovative while still protecting our heritage.
• We strive for timeless beauty and quality craftmanship.
• We celebrate curiosity and believe in working proactively and being solution focused.
• We believe in upholding family values; we treat everyone with honesty, respect and kindness while nurturing our teams to deliver excellence.
• We believe in making people smile.

Purpose:

To manage the product lifecycle from prototypes through to salesman samples; transforming shoes from an initial concept to a commercially successful product. Working closely with the Chairman and Product Development team.

Responsibilities:

Sourcing

• Visit relevant material fairs to understand seasonal trends, research new potential suppliers, maintain existing contacts and manage the company’s relationships with existing suppliers.
• Source new materials following the Designer’s guidelines and submit them for his/her approval.
• Develop seasonal fabrics and exclusives with mills, accessories and embroidery suppliers.
• Develop metal trimmings with relevant suppliers.
• Responsible for requesting material testings.

Collection Development

• Help coordinate seasonal structures development as per guidelines.
• Creation of specs for the first prototype and sample.

• Sign off prototypes and order final samples.
• Daily liaison with the factories to follow up on the development of the collection and to ensure all fabrics/materials/hardware/accessories selected are purchased.
• Find suitable substitutions or help with any modifications of the components.
• Liaise between the raw material supplier and the factory to ensure that prototypes and samples are delivered in a timely manner.
• Ensure all deadlines for prototypes and final samples are met.
• Verify that all samples meet the quality standards and Designer’s expectations.
• Handover to production ensuring all information is provided and correct.

Administration

• Data input in PLM based system.
• Pre order materials for sampling and forward leftover to production.
• Request materials tech specs.
• Day to day admin and organisational duties.

Any other tasks as requested. 

Skills and Experience Required:

• Experience in similar role, within luxury footwear.
• Highly proficient in MS Office, PLM.
• Fluency in Italian.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, and ensure delivery of results within tight deadlines.
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail, with an appreciation of colour and imagery, and the ability to lead innovation.
• Ability to review samples to ensure product meets BOM and visual expectations.
• Positive; work well within a team.
• Excellence: High level of finesse and excellence required in delivery of all tasks.

Contract Length: 12 Months Maternity Cover