Manager Material Concepts & Process Innovation - Underfoot Platforms & Materials Innovation

- Coalition & Brand: All Footwear Brands (VANS, The North Face, Altra, Timberland, Timberland Pro)

- Function: Global Material Supply

- Geographic Scope: Asia (ASO) – South-East Asia

- Reporting Manager (Designation): Senior Manager Underfoot Platforms & Materials Innovation

Role & Responsibilities:

Position Definition (Key Purpose of the Position):

• As part of the Global Materials Supply (GMS) Team, The Manager Material Concepts & Process Innovation in the Underfoot Platforms & Materials Innovation department will work cross functionally with the Innovation leads of VF’s footwear Brand (VANS, The North Face, ALTRA, Timberland, Timberland Pro), engineering teams around Polymers and Tooling, as well as members of Footwear Fabrics and Asia Footwear Product Development teams.

• Collaborating closely with above mentioned functions, the Manager Material Concepts & Process Innovation will be held accountable to innovate, drive and deliver new footwear concepts providing desirable consumer benefits according to the Brand’s Innovation roadmaps.

• The Manager Material Concepts & Process Innovation will be pivoting around existing footwear materials in the library and those in development stage to deliver new footwear concepts.

• The role requires to be up-to-date and constantly learning about footwear production methods, especially for shoe-making and the scouting of new technologies to keep VF’s Footwear brands on the front of relevant innovation.

• The VF sustainability strategies and guidelines need to be the backbone of the work.

Key Result Areas:

• Developed FTW concepts successfully adopted by business/Brands and delivered to market.

• First-in-class exploration of new technologies

• Brand innovation strategies influenced and executed.

• VF’s environmental footprint successfully reduced.

• Failing quick

Competency Requirements:

Behavioral Competencies -

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)

• Able to operate within a matrixed and culturally diverse environment

• Mastering collaboration but with the ability to work independently

• Role-modelling stake-holder engagement and able to cooperate and communicate within a highly matrixed organization

• Able to work under pressure with multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines

• Project management and able to deliver outcomes within defined time-lines

• Logical thinker able to execute within sound experimental design parameters

• Detail orientated, quality mindset

• Outstanding learning agility

Functional Competencies –

• Excellent cross-functional indirect management skills (w/o direct reports)

• Outstanding FTW manufacturing/shoe making expertise and experience

• Strong understanding of compounds & other footwear related materials

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Sound experimental design and knowledge of performance validation testing

• Basic knowledge of outsole/midsole manufacturing

Experience

Minimum Relevant Experience: 5-10 years experience in Footwear manufacturing and innovation, especially in Shoe making and Supply Chain organizations, but not limited to

Nature of Work: Research and Development

Academic Qualifications

Minimum Degree Held: Master’s degree, College graduate or equivalent work experience

Subject Expert In: Materials for shoe making

Team Structure: Separately provided

Specific Working Conditions

Frequency of Travel: Frequent travel within South East Asia

*If the position requires a person to work in special working conditions this should be stated in the position description. Special working conditions cover a range of circumstances from regular evening and weekend work, shift work, working outdoors, working with challenging clients, and so forth