Manager, Footwear Engineering, R&D na Brooks Running

Your Responsibilities:

• Footwear Engineering:
• Lead a team of product engineers in the creation of footwear toolbox validation and publication of best practices from innovation to inline to adoption.
• Determine project scope and feasibility based on briefs creating project plans, identifying tools and resources to execute consumer insights or needs. This includes projects you own as well as managing and supporting a team through the brief stage into design, development, and commercialization.
• Identify the plans and projects required to execute strategies outlined to achieve organizational goals and adapt projects to changing conditions.
• Lead your own designated projects and oversee your team’s execution of large-scale, complex projects with significant business impact or projects incorporating new technology/ manufacturing techniques and defining the framework for how to execute cross collaborative objectives (franchise product, new technology, etc.).
• Lead a team of Footwear Product Engineers by establishing objectives, required deliverables and overseeing the successful execution of product strategy. Ensure all projects meet business goals and requirements including on–time delivery of wear test samples, sales samples, and production confirmation.
• Maintain a deep understanding of critical calendar deadlines and how they impact business decisions and objectives. Plan and oversee execution of projects according to the seasonal critical dates that lead to foundational support for product teams.
• Lead your team in acting as the technical authority for tooling blueprints (midsole and outsole) and upper patterns / shell patterns and as the resource for educating the product team in real-time on shell patterns. Grow their ability to critique, adjust and evaluate from a performance, manufacturing, and functional perspective.
• Ensure team continuous technical learning by staying informed about vendor capabilities, factory relationships, quality issues and lead times.
• Plan for Asia-based development trips, 3 - 4 per year, for yourself or the team to work with manufacturers and suppliers on existing and current development projects.
• Participate in account visits as needed domestic and international.


• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Alignment:
• Work collaboratively with Managers across Product Creation to establish guidelines to assign priority to projects and to monitor and adjust processes to meet the brand initiatives and demands.
• Ensure project plans support the needs of cross functional partners across the footwear department.
• Partner with and guide design and development leadership to ensure that designs are manufacturable and meet quality objectives of the organization.
• Partner with Biomechanics lab to assess optimization goals as well as document risks and update performance best practices.
• Connect the dots across all project requests and create project plans to ensure optimization of resources. See the ‘big picture’ as it relates to cross functional work streams.
• Initiate and lead meetings with product teams during various phases of development cycle to review, evaluate, update and ultimately drive the decision-making process that leads to on–time production confirmation.
• Organize and communicate new processes and workflows to the cross functional teams.


• People Management:
• Coach your team to gain an in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing process and an understanding of how to manipulate the process to advance and achieve manufacturing techniques to enhance the overall performance of product.
• Lead direct reports effectively with Brooks cultural values by mirroring Connect (our leadership development program) principles and methodology. Provide a collaborative, transparent, and rewarding team environment.
• Provide coaching and training for direct reports. Monitor team member performance, promote career development, and be proactive on team dynamics within the group.
• Own decisions related to day-to-day employee career, training, performance, etc. and provide recommendations to Footwear leadership on employee decisions such as compensation, promotions, hiring/termination.


• Accountability:
• Cultivate team accountability through management of resource planning and assignment of clear “by=whens.”
• Own the process and outcome for execution of deliverables to ensure on-time and on-budget.
• Ensure that documentation is developed and maintained for Footwear Engineering processes and programs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Design, Biomechanics, or other applicable technical degrees or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a footwear development role, athletic/running experience preferred.
• Proven ability to create and maintain product creation calendar. 5+ years of proven success with project management skills. Ability to ‘connect the dots’ while creating project plans to ensure cross-collaboration across the business.
• 3+ years proven track record managing a high functioning team. Desire to support people in their career growth.
• Knowledge in construction processes, including outsole/midsole drawing, pattern engineering, material construction and properties, and costing is also expected.
• Demonstrated ability to create and conceive new ideas pertaining to the consumer, product line, and business. Outstanding communication skills, verbal and written.
• Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still being able to see the big picture, how it relates to the business, and how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a process plan as well as ensure cross-functional alignment and collaboration, including the ability to develop highly positive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds, resulting in effective working relationships across the company and with customers.
• Expert ability to work professionally and effectively within the team, across departments, and with customers – connecting them together in their aligned execution of the product.
• Proven ability to influence, persuade, and negotiate to achieve alignment on project plans.
• High-level knowledge of footwear pattern engineering and manufacturing processes to ensure products meet the specific quality standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an advanced ability to communicate new ideas, concepts, and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
• Curious and open-minded; always open to a challenge, inventive, creative. With the ability to challenge the status quo, always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Illustrator, MS Office software, PLM software. Knowledge of FLEX (PLM) is a bonus.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!