Altra: Senior Footwear Developer, Special Projects & Collaborations

Altra Running; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Altra seeks a Senior Footwear Developer, Special Projects & Collaborations, to own end-to-end footwear development and lead high-visibility programs from concept through commercialization, upholding fit, performance, quality, and brand standards.

You will partner with external collaborators, athletes, designers, ambassadors, agencies and partners; translate creative vision into actionable development requirements; and drive cross-functional alignment across Product, Design, Merchandising,

Qualifications

• 6+ years of footwear product development experience.
• Strong knowledge of footwear construction, materials and tooling.
• Experience working with Asia-based development and manufacturing partners.
• Exceptional project management and timeline control.
• Ability to lead cross-functional, globally dispersed teams.
• Proficiency with Flex PLM, Illustrator, and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end footwear development for collaborations and high-visibility programs from concept through commercialization.
• Serve as the primary development partner for external collaborators and partners.
• Translate creative vision into actionable development requirements while upholding fit, performance, quality, and brand standards.
• Drive alignment across Product, Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Engineering, Sourcing, Manufacturing and external partners.
• Develop and manage timelines, milestones, risks, dependencies, and decisions for multiple projects.
• Identify and resolve development, sourcing, manufacturability, and timing risks to meet objectives.

Skills

Footwear development

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Flex PLM

Adobe Illustrator

MS Office

Global collaboration

Mentoring

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

At Altra, we are on a never-ending journey to seek out opportunities to unlock potential in ourselves and others and to create a more diverse and inclusive running community. When we’re all working together as the best versions of ourselves, we can feel empowered both individually and as a community.

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side‑by‑side with a team of people driven to discover more about ourselves and the world around us, Altra just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Altra Careers or www.altrarunning.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Senior Footwear Developer, Special Projects & Collaborations at Altra looks a little like this.

The Senior Footwear Developer owns end-to-end footwear development while leading strategically important, high‑visibility projects that require exceptional project management, cross‑functional influence, external partner collaboration, and the ability to translate unique creative visions into commercially viable products that uphold Altra's fit, performance, quality, and brand standards

Let’s break down that day‑in‑the‑life a bit more.

• Lead end-to-end footwear development for strategically important collaborations, special projects, limited‑edition initiatives, and other high‑visibility programs from concept through commercialization.
• Serve as the primary development partner for external collaborators, athletes, designers, ambassadors, agencies, brand partners, and special project stakeholders.
• Translate creative vision and collaborator input into actionable development requirements that uphold Altra’s fit, performance, quality, consumer experience, and brand standards.
• Drive alignment across Product Management, Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Engineering, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Asia Development, and external partners throughout the development process.
• Develop and manage project timelines, workback schedules, milestone tracking, risks, dependencies, and critical decisions for multiple concurrent projects with differing launch requirements.
• Proactively identify and resolve development, quality, sourcing, manufacturability, and timeline risks to maintain project objectives and milestone adherence.
• Act as a trusted development expert and communication hub, providing clear direction, updates, and recommendations that keep internal, external, and global partners informed and aligned.
• Partner with Asia Development, manufacturing, and factory teams to communicate product vision, evaluate feasibility, and influence execution that balances design intent, quality, performance, manufacturability, and timing.
• Manage compressed timelines and unique development challenges with strong project management, prioritization, organizational discipline, and cross‑functional influence.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely technical documentation within Flex PLM and related systems to support development execution and commercialization readiness.

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 6+ years of footwear product development experience.

• Excels in fast‑paced environments with shifting priorities and compressed timelines.
• Demonstrated success leading complex footwear projects from concept through commercialization.
• Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, tooling, manufacturing processes, and costing.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple high‑priority projects simultaneously.
• Proven ability to influence and communicate effectively across global, cross‑functional, and external partner teams.
• Strong collaboration and relationship‑building skills with internal stakeholders and external collaborators.
• Experience working directly with Asia‑based development and manufacturing partners.
• Ability to balance creative vision, commercial requirements, and brand standards.
• Proficiency with Flex PLM, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Serve as a mentor and technical resource for junior and mid‑level developers, sharing development expertise and best practices across the team.
• Represent special projects and collaborations in cross‑functional and leadership reviews, providing recommendations that inform go/no‑go and prioritization decisions.
• Willingness to support domestic and overseas travel, including to Asia‑based development and manufacturing partners, with increased flexibility expected during peak development and collaboration periods.

Now WE have a question for YOU.

Are you in?

Hiring Range

$103,680.00 USD - $129,600.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential

This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation

You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.