Sr. Footwear Development Manager
- BCorp Certified- We care about the trails we wear our footwear on.
- Join us as we continue to grow our brand globally!
- Great work environment with amazing office perks- ask us for more details
About Obōz…
Obōz Footwear is a hiking footwear brand founded in 2007. Bozeman, Montana is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise and it’s our home. It's what motivates us to lace up daily and explore the 18 million acres of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that surround us. A vast and breathtaking landscape just waiting to be explored on two feet. Bozeman is where it all started and it’s what inspired our name. Outside + Bozeman = Obōz.
About the role…
As the Senior Product Development Manager, you will support the footwear product creation process from design stage through commercialization with an emphasis on delivering product on spec, on time, and on margin.
You will collaborate and partner with the wider product creation team of designers, product line managers, and developers to create functional footwear solutions that reinforce and strengthen Oboz brand initiatives.
Responsibilities:
- Lead footwear product development from concept through commercialization, ensuring timelines and objectives are met.
- Oversee fit, wear, and biomechanical testing, using results to resolve performance and quality issues.
- Manage approval of production samples and transition products seamlessly into commercialization.
- Create and maintain accurate BOMs while evaluating tech packs for performance, construction, and material risks.
- Analyze lab results, patterns, and technical drawings to identify and resolve development issues.
- Coordinate timely creation, evaluation, and approval of technical information including costs, lasts, and lab tests.
- Utilize specialized tools to validate product specs and performance.
- Track project progress and collaborate with product triads to deliver on spec, on time, and on margin.
- Conduct teardown meetings to assess product fit, construction, and cost concerns.
- Provide actionable alternatives in materials, constructions, and costs to meet design and business targets.
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying process inefficiencies and proposing enhancements.
- Communicate clearly with internal teams and international partners throughout the development lifecycle.
- Provide leadership and mentorship to team members, aligning performance with departmental goals.
- Foster a culture of teamwork, empowerment, and continuous improvement within the organization.
- Manage departmental operations, budgeting, and performance metrics to support strategic objectives.
Requirements:
- Experience leading and managing footwear product development teams.
- Experience managing footwear product costing and negotiating costs with factories and suppliers.
- Thorough experience creating footwear product specifications and BOMs for performance product.
- An in-depth knowledge of upper and bottom material applications and processes.
- An in-depth knowledge of footwear constructions, leather, materials, lasts, molding processes, compound development, and foot anatomy.
- Experience successfully managing teams and processes in a fast-paced, global organization.
- Experience successfully satisfying the needs of diverse constituents with competing deadlines and priorities.
- Experience creating formal presentations and transparently responding to questions from senior management and other employees of an organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A proficiency in Microsoft Office program suite and Adobe Applications.
- An ability to travel domestically and internationally to development centers, production factories, supplier facilities, trade shows, and brand events as necessary.
How to apply…
Obōz has a small but growing family-feel team. We care about our customers, the outdoors and each other. We love the outdoors and are passionate about doing the right thing for a more sustainable world for us all to share. Are you in? Obōz is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. APPLY HERE.