Who We Are:
At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.
Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.
Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:
- Runner First
We act in the best interest of the runner
- Word is Bond
We do what we say we’ll do
- Champion Heart
We give our all in everything we do
- There is no “I” in Run
We stay generous with our humanity
- Keep Moving
We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!
We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.
Your Job:
The Footwear Product Development Manager, Asia will drive our footwear development process from concept to commercialization for core projects of highly complex models or new product introductions or pre-development. This person will work with cross–functional and multi-national product creation teams to help support the development process between our US based team and our factories in Asia to meet development and commercialization timelines. This person will actively manage and engineer prototypes through to product confirmation while working directly with various product creation groups (US Development, Pattern/Tooling Engineering, Asia Mold Shop, Bottom Vendors, Sample Room, Costing, Materials and Design Departments) to drive the tech package process and ensure products meet or exceed our quality standards. The Footwear Product Development Manager will be responsible for generating and communicating ideas regarding the engineering principles that enhance footwear performance(fit/feel/ride) and manufacturing efficiency of our products. The Footwear Product Development Manager leads a project from concept to production and leads a project team independently. As a Footwear Product Development Manager, you have the opportunity to coach or lead other junior developers /engineers with their projects and provide assistance to Manager, Footwear Product Development for projects as required.
Your Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage multiple projects from Brief stage through Design, Development, Costing and Commercialization for core projects of highly complex models or new product introductions.
- Plan and execute project development according to the seasonal calendar to drive on–time delivery of spam, photo+ sales samples, pre-model fit, model fit confirmation, and commercialization with strong understanding of advanced concepts of footwear creation process - pattern engineering, sample making, 2D/3D blueprints/drawings, mold making, materials, and understand costing/quality implications (High level understanding of patternmaking and block system/grade rule application.)
- Manipulate the process in order to advance and achieve new manufacturing techniques to enhance the overall performance of product with in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing process.
- Critique, adjust and evaluate all technical blueprints (outsole/ midsole/ upper), upper patterns and materials to optimize performance, manufacturability, and aesthetics perspective.
- Coach/Educate junior development team members to ensure that products are manufacturable and meet cost and quality objectives of the organization.
- Manage up to 1 junior Developer to sharpen their skill set and grow their career (including goal setting, quarterly performance review, and participating in candidate interviews.
- Recommend and specify to US product teams the component and construction options to meet costing targets, functional, aesthetic and quality goals (7 fit truths-Fit/feel/ride).
- Initiate and lead meetings with Asia cross-functional teams during various phases of development to review, evaluate, update product that leads to on–time production confirmation and achieving FOB target.
- Develop strong working relationship among engineers /factory developers/suppliers to enable joint problem solving to achieve better products.
- Demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills with persistent questioning to find out the “whys?”
- Lead key seasonal meetings for assigned projects with our commercialization, production, and factory groups. Document key issues and drive action plans to resolve outstanding issues.
- Lead development trip by organizing the agenda and setting up the target of achievement for success.
- Update and maintain technical packages for assigned projects for each quarter, including upper pattern packages, color maps and project specifications.
- Effectively communicate with our US Product teams (Development, Design, Product, Costing, R&D) to understand, manage, and execute product performance, aesthetics, and costing vision.
- Collaborate with our Materials team and vendors to improve materials that meet Brooks’ lab standards.
- Collaborate with our R&D engineering team and factories to ensure that our Brooks pattern/tooling best guidelines are implemented properly and consistently across all models.
- Collaborate with commercialization team and factories to ensure that the model fit tech transfer is done clean and on time.
- Keeps abreast of market trends, category goals, new technology and consumer needs throughout the development process and engages appropriately to ensure projects are completed within corporate guidelines and goals for all facets of product creation.
- Lead efforts to standardize the development process across teams and factories.
- Provide technical training and share best practices with the Brooks’ team or newcomers.
- Other responsibilities as required.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Design, Biomechanics or other applicable technical degrees or an equivalent combination of education and experience.;
- 7+years relevant experience in the product development of Athletic Footwear,
- 2+ years people management experience is a plus;
- Technical expertise in footwear product development, process, project management, costing and manufacturing of product from conception to retail.
- Advanced level of footwear development skills and proven cross functional project management success
- Working knowledge of cost engineering and ability to proactively recommend construction/costing solutions.
- Fluent English communication skills (both speaking and writing). Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from their counterparts at US headquarters, cross-functional colleagues, factory partners, etc.
- Proven track record of successful collaboration in global product teams.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence in a collaborative, cross-functional group without command/ control to meet strategic objectives.
- Demonstrate confidence and ability to manage projects/ process through a high degree of ambiguity – continually looking for solutions and anticipating the downstream effects. Ability to create solutions to successfully move forward.
- Demonstrated ability to develop highly positive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds resulting in effective working relationships across the company.
- Advanced ability to communicate new ideas, concepts and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
- Outstanding communication skills, verbal and written. Advanced ability to communicate new ideas, concepts and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
- Keen attention to detail in planning, organization and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
- Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our products or other departments’ operations and/or morale; “connecting the dots.”
- Curious and open minded; always open for a challenge, inventive, creative. With the ability to challenge the status quo – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details.
- Keen attention to detail in planning, organization and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
- Strong computer skills including experience with Illustrator, MS Office software.
- Must be proficient with MS Office applications (excel, word and PowerPoint);
- FlexPLM, MS Project, Illustrator experience a plus
- Passionate participation in Brooks activities a plus, combined with the ability to understand and empathize with the runner in order to develop loyal and engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
- Embrace and live the Brooks values!
At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.
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