Head of Footwear Development

Arne Clo Ltd; Hatfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the footwear industry seeks a Senior Footwear Developer to drive product innovation and team leadership. This role involves managing the entire development process, ensuring quality standards, and fostering supplier relationships. With a commitment to diversity and inclusivity, ARNE offers an exciting workplace built on collaborative excellence.

Benefits

32 Days Holiday (including Bank Holidays) + your Birthday off

Annual and quarterly bonus schemes

Private Healthcare including Dental & Optical Plans

Health Cash Plan from day one

Life assurance paying 5x annual salary

Discounted marketplace with cash back options

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of footwear design and materials.
• Experience managing teams and global suppliers.
• A proactive approach to innovation and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement footwear development strategy.
• Build and lead a high-performing development team.
• Oversee R&D of new materials and manufacturing techniques.

Skills

Footwear design

Team management

Material development

Technical innovation

Quality control

Job description

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ARNE is an apparel and footwear brand/retailer based in Birchwood Park near Warrington, UK. We design and develop our products in the UK, manufacture in the near & far east and then ship directly to our customers, via ARNEclo.com. We have recently branched out and are now also available via Selfridges both in store and online.

We have ambitious objectives over the next decade with the team believing all targets are achievable through new product category launches in shoes and womenswear alongside the creation of paid media, CRM activity and further international growth to amplify the great product / brand assets we have already created.

Reporting to our Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founders, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the development strategy, working closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative, high-performing footwear to market.

So if you are creative with a keen eye for detail, have a passion for the fashion industry and want to join us on our exciting journey please apply today!

Requirements

• Define and implement the footwear development strategy, ensuring alignment with brand objectives, market trends, and commercial goals.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing development team, fostering innovation and technical excellence.
• Drive research and development of new materials, sustainability initiatives, and advanced manufacturing techniques to elevate product quality and differentiation.
• Oversee the technical execution of all footwear designs, ensuring optimal fit, functionality, and performance across categories.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with global suppliers and manufacturers, negotiating costs, timelines, and quality standards.
• Manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables, ensuring on-time delivery and seamless execution of the development process.
• Work closely with design, marketing, merchandising, and operations teams to ensure a cohesive, market-leading product offering.
• Oversee rigorous testing and compliance processes to guarantee product durability, comfort, and performance.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer demands, and competitor activity to inform product innovation and future collections.
• Any other ad hoc duties as required

Essential Experience and Skills

• A deep understanding of footwear design, development, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Previous experience in senior footwear development roles, with experience managing teams and working with global suppliers.
• A passion for pushing creative and technical boundaries, with a strong grasp of emerging trends and technologies.
• The ability to balance creative vision with business objectives, cost targets, and commercial viability.
• A commitment to the highest quality standards, ensuring every product meets both design and performance criteria through QC process.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to cross-functional teamwork.
• Ability to manage sensitive projects with professionalism and integrity.
• We are proud to be recognised as a Medium sized Sunday Times Best Place to Work for 2024
• 32 Days Holiday (including Bank Holidays) + your Birthday off
• Holidays increasing up to 36 days with service
• Option to buy / sell holidays
• Annual and quarterly bonus schemes based on company performance
• Private Healthcare including Dental & Optical Plans after probation
• Health Cash Plan from day one
• Life assurance paying 5x annual salary from day one
• Discounted marketplace with money off/cash back from 100’s of places
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

ARNE are an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diverse people bring different skills and are committed to ensuring our business support the needs of potential colleagues from Ethnic Minority backgrounds and colleagues who may be disabled or neurodiverse. We are committed creating a great place to work through diversity and inclusivity and we strongly encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds to join our growing team.