[Hiring] Product Developer - Footwear @Columbia Sportswear Company

Role Description

Manages the development of new footwear products from the receipt of Tech Package through key development stages to commercialization, providing support during the commercialization and the transition into the initial productions. Close cooperation and collaboration between LO PE team for the engineering on the new last, new upper and new tool during the development stages with best practice and key feature map & process set up and implement into commercialization and initial productions. Maintains connectivity between HQ and across LO multi-function teams also the factory teams through the tech pack to finished product. Responsible for the executions of the product design, lead time, performance, costing, delivery and manufacturability are all well achieved. Key project and pilot program management and full involvement and support in commercialization and initial production.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for working with factory partners and key vendors in converting initial design renderings into successful, manufacturable, profitable and commercialized product.
• Reviews blue prints, 3Ds and wooden models with support from Product Development Manager and LO Columbia PEM to ensure accuracy, functionality of mold details and design integrity.
• Manage project information, ensure its accuracy and timeline requested, leads meetings with key partners, suppliers, mold vendors and team members.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and engage in all phases of the Columbia product process to ensure projects are approved, tested, completed and on-time delivered, are manufacturable, meet design intent, performance, costing and sustainability goals.
• Constantly review and evaluate the project status with your HQ Portland counterpart and keep them continually in the loop regarding issues which may take the project outside of its predetermined track and offer the solution plan.
• Utilize your footwear knowledge and tools to achieve project objectives and communicate project status to your direct leadership and dotted line reported to your Portland based supervisor.
• Establish and maintain a close working relationship with your counterpart engineering and production team responsible for last, pattern, tooling, commercialization and production functions in all key development stages.
• Fully support the product commercialization process through T1 to T4 and onto the initial productions, ensuring successful hand-over to CSC production team with provided documents including CCL, Key Feature & process Map, Passing reports for upper materials, bottom, finish goods, CFMed T1 and PCS.
• Manage prototyping and sampling across designated partner bases and advise on any performance shortcomings and timing issues by these factory partners and provide improvement plans.
• Apply an advanced understanding of product and category objectives, performance, quality, fit goals, best practices, testing, costing desire and consumer requirements.
• Key projects & pilot programs management and lead with best practice and key feature & map well outlined by full involvement from tech packs to commercialization and initial productions ensuring full implementation into mass production.
• Notify and verify to the Portland product team and LO related teams that all material, component and construction options meet the key features and product performance requirements before buy placement; keep related teams timely updated with information impacting their specific roles at all key stages in the process.
• Maintain current files on all assigned models, including sample request forms, last specification data, specifications and notice of changes, confirmed tooling drawings, key feature & process maps and all other related information.
• Training and mentoring of Product Developer Assistant and Level I is a core accountability of this job and a key function against which job performance will be measured.
• Be a person of unquestionable integrity and honesty in all business relationships and establish a professional, industrious working relationship with factory partners, ensuring the name and integrity of the Columbia company is continually held in high esteem.
• Be prepared to take on other project or brand-related duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Carry out the details of this Job Description not only in word but spirit and reality too.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a business, engineering, industrial design or a similar field.
• 3 – 5 years footwear experience in product creation or engineering with a global brand, 2 more years’ experience if no degree.
• A strong understanding of pattern engineering, costing, quality implications, model making, part drawings, customs, patents, and manufacturing processes.
• Project and team management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated leadership capability including the ability to motivate and mentor others within the working group.
• Demonstrated skill in problem solving and results orientation.