I - PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

• Manage and drive the footwear development process from brief/CAD/TechPack and Specs to the various prototyping stages until product confirmation, model size FIT confirmation and Buy Ready.
• Project manage, collaborate, communicate and provide value added solutions to ensure on time delivery of high quality samples and ready for production.
• Function as a business and technical resource for the Senior Product Engineer position. Drive work flows to execute against the HeyDude GTM calendar, with RSACI guidelines.
• As a PE you are responsible for clarity of communication and transparency in the process. Add value at all points in the development cycle.
• Work to always inspire teamwork between the Asia JJ office and US teams and the factories. Build a true sense of Asia – US co-ownership of each development projects.
• Leverage the factory Development Center resources to suggest opportunities to US. Manage business with the factory around Development and Commercialization activities.
• Anticipate quality, manufacturing and capacity / lead-time concerns and address early in the process.

II - KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Management: Participate and actively manage development and engineering of product prototyping; from receipt of initial Tech Package and Specs, through to spec lock, model size fit, confirmation sampling, and Buy Ready. Collaborate with factories, QA to ensure successful initial production trials. This includes working with US Product development and AO-HQ Materials, and the larger Jinjiang Hey Dude teams: Material, Costing, Lab, Planning, QA and well as external component Suppliers.
• Communication: Effectively communicate with US Product Development, and Jinjiang Hey Dude Teams (Lab, Materials, Costing, Planning and Quality). Understand the Footwear manufacturing process and use this knowledge to better execute design concepts into production. Review and proactively communicate project status and reports across the Hey Dude organization. Create and update all aspects of projects in Centric and the Central Shared Drive. Clearly and concisely document Development and Commercialization issues relating to the product process. Delegate as necessary to Sr. Product Engineer.
• Decision Making: Initiate meetings with Internal & External Teammates during various phases of the development and commercialization process to review, evaluate, update and ultimately drive the decision-making process that leads to on-time production confirmation. Plan and execute project development according to seasonal critical dates that lead to the on-line delivery of Sales Samples, Production Confirmation, and Cutting die trial. Ensure manufacturability of product concepts.
• Assure Product Performance and Quality: Recommend and specify to US and JinJiang Teams about material, component, and construction options to meet costing targets and product functional goals. Assure product performance integrity through product testing, cross functionally with the Manufacturing, Material and the Fit Process teams.
• Develop Technical Competencies: Understand advanced concepts of pattern engineering and subsequent costing/quality implications, model making/part drawings/drafting/2D documentation, mold-making, materials, customs, footwear manufacturing and associated processes. Understand the working methods and cultural norms of source Vendors.
• Other:

Mentor and train Sr. Engineer Product Execution as assigned.

Host and assist visitors that travel in from the US.

Execute Project Transfers as they arise.

III - KEY ROLE DIMENSIONS:

Key Relationship with:

• Internal Department:
• Cooperation with US Product development and Material team
• Cooperation with China team: Material, Costing, Planning, Lab, QA
• Other: Director, Sr. Director, and PEs
• External Stakeholders:
• T1 Vendor: Development, Commercialization, Tech, Lab
• T2: Material supplier, Outsole supplier, Mold shop, Mills

Geographical responsibility area: Vietnam & oversea (Cambodia, India, and Indonesia)

IV - JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Experience:

• 8+ years footwear development or production experience; 10+ years’ experience without degree.
• Product knowledge and thorough understanding of the product process are required.
• Experience working with Factories. Brand and Off-shore US.

Knowledge:

• High sense of integrity.
• Strong footwear background (minimum 7 years of shoe making experience including technical shoe making skills).
• Production management experience.
• Thorough knowledge of shoe construction.
• Thorough knowledge of materials and their use in footwear.
• Thorough knowledge of upper patterns, bottom components, tooling, and costing.
• Computer skills (Excel, PPT, Adobe)

Skills:

• Fluent English skills, fluent Chinese is a plus.
• Team leadership & management. Is an effective team builder.

Education:

• Diploma or degree from educational entity focusing on shoemaking, engineering, or business administration.

Travel Requirement: Asia