Leather Technologist

UnfilterStory; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

UnfilterStory in India seeks a Leather Technician to lead technical development and commercialization of leather materials for its global footwear portfolio. You will collaborate with Product Development, Global Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing and supplier partners to ensure materials meet quality, sustainability and manufacturing requirements.

The role emphasizes material testing, specification development, and cross-functional delivery to enable product innovation and supplier excellence.

Qualifications

• Leather manufacturing processes knowledge.
• Leather tanning and finishing techniques.
• Footwear manufacturing processes awareness.
• Leather grading and classification.
• Material quality standards understanding.
• Product development lifecycle familiarity.
• Global sourcing and supplier management experience.
• Material sustainability principles knowledge.
• Quality management systems familiarity.
• Written and spoken English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and commercialize leather materials for seasonal and carry-over collections.
• Evaluate materials against technical, quality, durability, aesthetic, and manufacturing standards.
• Conduct technical assessments of leather properties (grading, color, thickness, finish, softness, performance).
• Coordinate laboratory testing and validate compliance with quality and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain leather specifications, color standards, defect criteria, cutting standards, finishing guidelines.
• Collaborate with Product Development to select suitable leathers for new products.
• Work with leather suppliers to resolve issues and improve material quality.
• Support supplier evaluations, material audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain technical documentation, leather libraries, testing reports, and approvals.
• Ensure supplier compliance documentation is complete and up-to-date.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Quality to investigate material issues and implement corrective actions.
• Support sustainability initiatives for responsible leather sourcing.
• Participate in cross-functional projects driving innovation, quality, cost optimization.

Skills

Leather grading

Material evaluation

Leather testing

Quality assurance

Global sourcing

Supplier management

Root cause analysis

Problem solving

ERP

PLM

MS Office

Tools

ERP

PLM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Resource Accountabilities

Financial – Direct & Indirect

• Individual Contributor.

Business Unit: Supply Chain

Job Family: Materials

Reporting To: HOD/Director – Global Materials

About The Company

A leading global footwear manufacturer and retailer with a strong international presence, extensive manufacturing and retail operations, and a long-standing legacy of innovation, quality, and responsible business practices. With over 20,000 employees and more than 2,000 stores across 40+ countries.

The organization operates across multiple markets with a global sourcing and product development network, combining international scale with local market responsiveness.

Main Purpose

The Leather Technician is responsible for the technical development, evaluation, and commercialization of leather materials for the organization's global footwear portfolio.

Based in India, the role collaborates with Product Development, Global Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure materials meet required quality, sustainability, and manufacturing standards, enabling product innovation, supplier excellence, and production readiness.

Core Accountabilities

• Support the development, evaluation, and commercialization of leather materials for seasonal and carry-over collections.
• Evaluate leather materials against technical, quality, durability, aesthetic, and manufacturing standards.
• Conduct technical assessments of leather properties, including grading, colour consistency, thickness, finish, softness, and performance.
• Coordinate laboratory testing and validate leather compliance with quality and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain leather specifications, colour standards, defect acceptance criteria, cutting standards, and finishing guidelines.
• Work closely with Product Development teams to identify the most suitable leather materials for new product development.
• Collaborate with leather suppliers and tanneries to resolve technical issues, improve material quality, and support commercialization.
• Support supplier evaluations, material audits, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier capability and product quality.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, leather libraries, testing reports, material specifications, and approval records.
• Ensure supplier compliance documentation, including Letters of Conformity and technical certifications, is complete and up to date.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Quality teams to investigate material-related issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support sustainability initiatives by promoting responsible sourcing and environmentally compliant leather materials.
• Participate in cross-functional projects that drive innovation, quality improvements, cost optimization, and operational excellence.

Resource Accountabilities

• Support material quality improvements that minimize waste, rework, and production losses.
• Contribute to supplier performance improvements and material cost optimization.

People – FTE Direct & Indirect

• Individual Contributor.
• Provide technical guidance to suppliers, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.

Other Measures

• Maintain leather standards, technical documentation, material libraries, and testing records.
• Support supplier capability development and global material standardization.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Chief Supply Chain Officer
• Global Product Development Head
• Global Materials Head
• Product Development Teams
• Global Sourcing
• Manufacturing
• Quality Assurance
• Footwear Engineering
• Sustainability
• Regional Product Development Teams

External

• Leather Tanneries
• Leather Suppliers
• Material Development Partners
• Third-party Testing Laboratories
• Manufacturing Partners
• Certification and Compliance Bodies

Essential Knowledge

• Leather manufacturing processes
• Leather tanning and finishing techniques
• Footwear manufacturing processes
• Leather grading and classification
• Material quality standards
• Product development lifecycle
• Global sourcing and supplier management
• Material sustainability principles
• Quality management systems
• Written and spoken English

Technical Skills

• Leather inspection and grading
• Material evaluation and risk assessment
• Leather testing and validation
• Colour and shade evaluation
• Material specification development
• Root cause analysis and problem solving
• Supplier technical support
• Quality assurance methodologies
• Microsoft Office Suite
• ERP and/or PLM systems preferred

Successful Experience

• 3–5 years' experience in leather technology, material development, footwear manufacturing, or leather quality.
• Experience working with leather suppliers and tanneries.
• Experience supporting footwear product development and commercialization.
• Experience in laboratory testing and quality validation.
• Exposure to supplier development and manufacturing support.
• Experience working within a global sourcing or product development environment is preferred.

Competencies

• Technical Expertise
• Quality Orientation
• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
• Planning & Organizing
• Results Orientation
• Continuous Improvement

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