Footwear Technologist - Carvela

Kurt Geiger; East Devon; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enviable discounts

Gym Discounts

Summer Hours - 3pm Friday finish

Half Day, Pay Day Friday

Pension and life assurance

RetailTrust support

Job summary

Kurt Geiger’s Carvela brand seeks an experienced Footwear Technologist to strengthen our premium womenswear footwear and leather goods sourcing, development and compliance. The role supports cross‑functional teams across UK and Asia, ensuring quality and timely production, with an emphasis on data integrity and supplier collaboration.

You will help manage material approvals, testing, cost negotiations and production schedules while maintaining traceability and regulatory standards, in a

Qualifications

• Technically trained in footwear fitting and grading.
• Previous experience in footwear production or sourcing.
• Can work to tight deadlines.
• A strong and effective communicator.
• Has experience in women’s premium fashion footwear.
• Inquisitive and confident – enjoys researching and summarising information on ad-hoc projects.
• Project management skills – manage multiple areas of work and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail and accuracy – understand legislation and advise actions to stakeholders.
• Has a good understanding of leather.

Responsibilities

• Maintain supplier quality data and records.
• Coordinate raw material and sample testing; report results.
• Collate leather sourcing data for Leather Working Group.
• Ensure compliance documentation is up-to-date.
• Manage internal order tracking and advise on shipments.
• Coordinate sample dispatches to HQ and suppliers.
• Support cost negotiations with brand partners to meet margins.
• Collaborate with UK and Asia teams on schedules and approvals.
• Send samples for testing and follow up on quality issues.
• Communicate supply chain issues across teams.
• Assist daily team duties and store visits for quality checks.
• Input product data into required systems.
• Complete seasonal product reports for leadership.
• Support other departments when needed.
• Travel with Buyer/Designer to suppliers as required.
• Interface with DC QC to ensure proper inspections.
• Investigate quality issues and report findings.

Skills

Footwear fitting

Footwear grading

Footwear production experience

Sourcing experience

Deadline-driven

Strong communication

Women’s premium footwear

Research and summarise

Project management

Attention to detail

Leather knowledge

MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Tools

MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Job description

Carvela, deeply rooted in Italian heritage, leads the way in premium accessories with shoes and bags designed in the heart of Milan by women, for women. Each product reflects our commitment to exceptional design and comfort, with every collection thoughtfully designed. Our brand is shaped by timeless style and a design philosophy that empowers women of all ages to feel their best. Made with high-quality materials and shaped by Italian-inspired silhouettes, our collections are created to work as hard as the women who wear them.

We are looking for an experienced Footwear Technologist, ideally with a background in manufacturing and sourcing of premium women’s footwear and leather goods. A thorough knowledge of footwear development and manufacturing. Has a good awareness of market trends to ensure that the footwear is functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Main Duties

• Support the Sourcing Team by maintaining data regarding supplier quality issues and ensuring that records are maintained and updated

• Facilitating raw material and sample testing and communicating the results to internal stakeholders

• Help to collate the data on leather sourcing and volumes to provide the Leather Working Group

• Becoming familiar with compliance and regulations to ensure that the necessary processes and documentation is followed and in order and records are kept

• Accessing the internal order tracking system to advise on Head of Sourcing on shipment schedules, so the resources in Asia can be applied to the right factories

• Follow up with the distribution centres in the UK, Europe and the US to ensure that any sample to illustrate issues are being sent to HQ and the suppliers

• Support cost negotiations & work closely with brand partners to ensure prices and margins are achieved

• Work proactively with the UK team and Asia Supply Chain team to take appropriate action on production schedules and material approvals

• Send samples off for testing and following up on quality related issues

• Build cross-functional team relationships to confidently communicate information regarding supply chain related issues

• Assist and support the team with day-to-day duties

• Carry out regular store visits to report on quality standards

• Product data input on the required systems

• Complete seasonal product reports for senior leadership meetings

• Support other departments when cover is needed

• Where necessary go on trips with the Buyer and/or Designer to suppliers around the world

• Liaise with DC QC team to ensure that products are inspected appropriately

• Investigate quality issues, find solutions and report findings to the QA Technical manager

• Ensure emerging issues are resolved quickly and effectively

• Ensuring traceability of confirmation samples into the warehouse is maintained, and that you have an oversight of the DC inspection process

• Ensure all damaged goods, manufacturing faults, transit damages are processed in an appropriate manner and that all costs are recharged to responsible parties through correct process

• Ensure international compliance documentation is accessible in the central system to prevent shipping delays

Skills

• Technically trained in footwear fitting and grading

• Previous experience in footwear production or sourcing

• Can work to tight deadlines

• A strong and effective communicator

• Has experience in women’s premium fashion footwear

• Inquisitive and confident - enjoys researching and summarising information on ad-hoc projects

• Project management skills - the ability to manage multiple areas of work and ensure deadlines are met and work is delivered to a high standard

• Attention to detail and accuracy essential- the ability to research, understand and relay information on legislation and advise actions as required to the relevant stakeholders

• Has a good understanding of leather

• Has Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Skills

• Competitive basic salary

• Pension and life assurance

• Enviable discounts

• Gym Discounts

• Summer Hours - 3pm Friday finish

• Half Day, Pay Day Friday (once per month)

• RetailTrust support

• And so much more!

If you’re successful, you will work for a business which recognises that amazing people are the key to driving our business forward and fulfil our vision of being the world’s leading multi-channel retailer of luxury branded shoes and accessories. We are a fast-paced business where no two days are the same, so you will need to be adaptable; but we will reward your hard-work, commitment and loyalty with a fantastic benefits package and very real opportunities for progression.

Our Culture

We’re an energic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Hard work is rewarded with new opportunities at every level and kindness is celebrated in everything we do. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Our Stores

The first Kurt Geiger store opened on London Bond street in 1963. Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop ups, our retail partners include some of the world’s most famous department stores.

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