What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director Technical Development position at Skechers?
Who We Are
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.
About The Role
Leads the development of the Performance Division Technical Running footwear projects from initial concept through sales samples, confirmation and basic fit. Provides effective project management and technical leadership to direct both domestic and Asia based product teams towards meeting all project objectives related to performance, manufacturing, costing, and aesthetics. Contributes to the R&D and implementation of new and existing materials, processes, components, techniques, and running related innovations, in order to aid design in achieving innovative product solutions for the athlete consumers we serve. Keeps informed of and aware of market developments with an eye towards improving marketplace competitiveness and Skechers brand equity.
What You'll Do
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
About Skechers
Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing benefits@skechers.com.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.
About The Role
Leads the development of the Performance Division Technical Running footwear projects from initial concept through sales samples, confirmation and basic fit. Provides effective project management and technical leadership to direct both domestic and Asia based product teams towards meeting all project objectives related to performance, manufacturing, costing, and aesthetics. Contributes to the R&D and implementation of new and existing materials, processes, components, techniques, and running related innovations, in order to aid design in achieving innovative product solutions for the athlete consumers we serve. Keeps informed of and aware of market developments with an eye towards improving marketplace competitiveness and Skechers brand equity.
What You'll Do
- Leads and manages the daily activities for all assigned projects. Thoroughly communicates necessary details to teams in USA and Asia in order to reach calendar milestone objectives.
- Leads upper development for manufacturability, fit, function, pre-cost and desired aesthetic. Works closely with fit/wear test team to ensure consistent performance fit and that each style meets wear test standards throughout the development process.
- Leads mold development from initial drawings through confirmation of model size with respect to manufacturability, fit, function, pre-cost, and aesthetic. In conjunction with Design and Development Leads, executes against strategy for components with regards to compounds, construction and mold type.
- Coordinates and maintains material and structural specifications to maintain Skechers standards for quality, durability, and performance.
- Participates in the planning and execution of forward engineering activities to meet commercialization and production timelines.
- Plans, coordinates, orders samples for, and helps facilitate product testing (i.e., fit testing, wear testing, biomechanical testing) by working closely with the product testing team, as products dictate and as needed to ensure project objectives are met.
- In conjunction with design, manages the assembly of the approved design into a package of two and three-dimensional information which adequately describes and utilizes current and feasible manufacturing and assembly techniques.
- Maintain and provide a clear form of documentation and communication with team members to keep the product teams focused and all working towards the same project objectives, to help assist the transfer of design solutions from concept through final product with Asia developers and Skechers factory base.
- Manages costing objectives as outlined by Product Manager and costing team and works with design to achieve category goals. This entails supplying necessary information needed for pre-costing exercises during review of product briefs, through tech package development and final pricing of confirmation standards.
- Works with development and design team in USA and Asia to initiate and oversee the development of Lasts based upon desired aesthetic, performance, comfort and fit.
- Work with designers, merchandising and marketing.
- Work with material team for the selection and testing of materials.
- Help set material standards.
- Approve final specs.
- Work with costing to achieve target cost.
- Development of lasts and molds.
- Assist in the confirmation of production samples.
- Assist in the Basic& Extreme-Fit approval process.
- Document the Development Process.
- Update specs and processes.
- Recommendations of manufacturing improvements.
- Travel to manufacturing locations (typically 2 trips annually), development centers and vendors to oversee the execution of footwear, trips to trade shows and locations necessary for keeping current with future trends in R&D as necessary.
- Possesses a solid foundation in all aspect of athletic footwear manufacturing and development and related processes. (footwear manufacturing experience is a plus)
- Capable to manage development projects from concept to confirmation.
- Understands and has experience with Last development.
- Understands and has experience with pattern making.
- Fluent in reading and navigating around upper and outsole part drawings using 2D and 3D viewing and markup software's.
- Sense of style, fashion, and proportions.
- Detail oriented, keeps track of projects.
- Checks, influences, and confirms specifications and materials.
- Communicates well with all team members including Asia side R&D and factories using all necessary tools (ie., E-mail, phone, MS Teams, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc.
- Innovative and creative thinker.
- Self-Starter that gets things done.
- Possesses a sense of responsibility and ownership.
- Manages multiple projects and multi-tasks well.
- Capable of leading, training and motivating.
- Excellent Computer Skills.
- Creates and maintains useful records.
- Maintains good relationships with factories, overseas offices, and suppliers.
- Promotes a strong sense of team based on trust and mutual respect for others.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business or Engineering and or minimum 10 years footwear development experience required.
- General knowledge of Asian culture and factory development, manufacturing, and general operations.
- Equivalent experience can substitute for degree.
About Skechers
Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing benefits@skechers.com.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.
Salary : $200,000 - $230,000
