Senior Manager, Product Development

About the role

Our Product Development team is always one step ahead. While many teams are responsible for responding to moments in the present, this one looks toward the future. From finessing the pattern of our silhouettes to developing new materials, our developers work hand-in-hand with our factory team, sustainability, merchandising and design partners to make sure the wheels of Rothy’s keep turning on our quest for a more sustainable future.

Rothy’s is looking for a Sr. Manager, Product Development (Footwear) to lead footwear development end to end, from concept through commercialization. You’ll be a trusted technical expert and people leader, guiding a team of developers while driving the strategies, processes and decisions that shape how we build product. Reporting to the Director, Footwear Product Development, you’ll help drive department strategy and partner with leaders across Product Design, Merchandising, Sustainability, Production and our factory to deliver sustainable, high-quality footwear that delights customers and lands on time and on margin. This role will require occasional meetings outside of office hours to partner with our factory and vendors across time zones.

Responsibilities

• Own footwear development across the portfolio from concept through commercialization, delivering on aesthetic, fit, quality, cost and timeline goals
• Partner with leaders in Product Design, Merchandising and Sustainability on seasonal planning and strategy, translating design intent into technically sound, manufacturable footwear
• Make key technical decisions on bottoms, components, upper patterns, knit constructions and materials, balancing fit, performance, durability, cost and manufacturing needs
• Drive the footwear development calendar, managing milestones across all sample rounds (prototype, development, fit, confirmation, TOP) and resolving risks before they impact launch
• Lead cost strategy for the portfolio, including CBD and yield reviews and factory negotiations, and influence senior leaders on tradeoffs to meet margin targets
• Shape and uphold brand fit standards and last library practices to strengthen fit consistency and comfort across categories and seasons
• Help drive department strategy and lead the build and rollout of stage gate criteria, PLM practices and development playbooks that scale with the business
• Set long-term team objectives and strategy, manage team resources and budget, and delegate to meet goals
• Build and lead a high-performing team, knowing each person’s