Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
The Product Developer Manager will lead the future of football footwear at New Balance. You will be responsible for product fit, performance, functionality and cost, as well as direct leadership of the product development team for Product Segment. Working closely with Marketing, Design, Engineering and other cross-functional teams you to successfully plan, develop, and complete a profitable product. You will deliver product programs to the market on time, with the quality and quantity required. Working collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders globally, you will drive the success and performance within the football footwear category- ensuring all product specifications are available for manufacturing and production.
The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of football footwear and a proven ability to juggle multiple projects. They will excel in paying close attention to details and effectively influencing and guiding the product development team. This role will require quarterly travel across the UK as well as internationally. We offer hybrid working and a flexibility to working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Lead the Product Development Team - develop, test, validate and commercialize industry leading Global Football footwear
- Drive revenue targets, increase market share and win with the consumer
- Lead and monitor all category projects- from Initiation, through Design, Prototyping, Sales Samples, Extremes and Buy Ready
- Partner closely with Asia Regional Development Managers/Teams and Operations Managers to ensure clarity and timeliness of information, as well as successful execution of prototypes
- Accountable for all seasonal and off-calendar development milestones
- Partner with the wider Product Management and Design teams to manage seasonal KPIs and processes
- Line manage a team of Developers, Designers, Project Managers and Engineers – providing technical insight as well as business pipeline plans
- Develop and guide direct reports to achieve their professional goals while balancing with the needs of the organization.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
- Educated to degree or equivalent combination of Related Industry Experience
- Extensive experience with the full product life cycle of footwear
- Thorough knowledge of the footwear industry
- High level project management skills
- Strong leadership skills with previous experience of line management is required
- Strategic problem solver capable to lead projects from concept to validation and is very comfortable in a fast-paced and changing environment
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Strong innovative and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and use of engineering tools and 3D software would be advantageous
BENEFITS:
- Management Bonus
- Private Medical Insurance
- Dental Scheme
- Pension Scheme
- Flexible Working Hours (07:00 – 10:00 start, 15:00 -18:00 finish)
- Hybrid working (3 days on-site)
- 25 days Annual Leave per year
- Life Insurance
- On Site Gym
- Employee Discount
- Opportunity to work abroad for four weeks per year
- Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)
Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.
If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.
Top Skills
What We Do
In 1906, New Balance began as a humble one-man operation founded on the belief that “we were born to move,” and has since grown into an international corporation, selling footwear and apparel in over 120 countries and employing over 8,000 associates worldwide. Our mission has always been to support the performance of athletes, and with an unparalleled focus on quality and craftsmanship, we’ve come to set the standard for comfort and fit in an industry all too often driven by hype.
We’re incredibly proud of our history and how far we’ve come, but companies don’t thrive for over a century by being content.
Whether it’s setting a new style trend, retooling our manufacturing process, or building a new state-of-the-art headquarters, we pursue innovation with a spirit of fearless independence. As the only privately held major footwear company in the world, we’re free to do things our way, pushing limits and testing boundaries as we continually reimagine what could be. After all, the status quo isn’t static.
But doing things our way wouldn’t mean much if we weren’t also doing them the right way. We invest in our associates as they invest in us, and as we move forward, we make a point of giving back, supporting communities around us through ambitious philanthropic efforts and involvement programs. We are a company that cares, and our culture is one of integrity and teamwork where together we become greater than the sum of our parts.
