Footwear Technologist - Carvela

Kurt Geiger; Farringdon; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension & life cover

Employee discounts

Gym discounts

Summer hours

Payday Friday

Job summary

Kurt Geiger is seeking an experienced Footwear Technologist to support sourcing and quality across premium women’s footwear and leather goods. The role focuses on footwear development, supplier data, testing, and production coordination to ensure quality and efficiency.

You will work with UK, Europe and US teams, travel to suppliers as needed, and contribute to cost negotiations while maintaining compliance and traceability across the supply chain.

Qualifications

• Technically trained in footwear fitting and grading.
• Experience in footwear production or sourcing.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Strong communicator with cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience in women’s premium fashion footwear.
• Research and summarise information for ad-hoc projects.
• Project management across multiple areas and deadlines.
• Attention to detail; understand legislation.
• Good understanding of leather.
• MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain data on supplier quality issues for the sourcing team.
• Coordinate raw material and sample testing and share results with stakeholders.
• Collate leather sourcing data for Leather Working Group.
• Ensure processes and documentation are compliant and traceable.
• Advise Head of Sourcing on shipment schedules with Asia factories.
• Coordinate with UK, Europe and US DCs on samples.
• Support cost negotiations with brand partners to meet margins.
• Collaborate with UK and Asia teams on production schedules and material approvals.
• Send samples for testing and follow up on quality issues.
• Communicate supply chain issues across cross-functional teams.

Skills

Footwear fitting and grading

Footwear production or sourcing

Tight deadlines

Strong communicator

Women’s premium fashion footwear

Research & ad-hoc projects

Project management

Attention to detail & legislation

Understanding leather

MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft 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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