Product Developer, Shoes

At Burberry, we believe creativity opens spaces. Our purpose is to unlock the power of imagination to push boundaries and open new possibilities for our people, our customers and our communities. This is the core belief that has guided Burberry since it was founded in 1856 and is central to how we operate as a company today.

We aim to provide an environment for creative minds from different backgrounds to thrive, bringing a wide range of skills and experiences to everything we do. As a purposeful, values-driven brand, we are committed to being a force for good in the world as well, creating the next generation of sustainable luxury for customers, driving industry change and championing our communities.

JOB PURPOSE

This position will deliver the end to end product development process in their respective category within Burberry’s Product Development function (women’s formal footwear).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the development of prototypes, samples, and special orders within their respective categories, from design launch to delivery in the showroom.
• Build and maintain a close working partnership with the Design team, acting as a key partner throughout the development process by attending fittings, providing feedback, and contributing ideas and solutions to ensure the design vision is translated into the final product.
• Build and maintain a close working partnership with the Technical team, proactively resolving issues and keeping relevant stakeholders informed.
• Strong knowledge of women’s formal footwear, including construction techniques, materials, and key manufacturing processes, to effectively manage product development activities and collaborate with technical teams and suppliers.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, developing a strong understanding of their capabilities and availability to meet business needs. This includes supporting cost negotiations and aesthetic adjustments to ensure alignment with the design vision.
• Ensure deadlines are met by following up on all prototype- and sample-related activities, driving issues to resolution and proactively identifying risks while proposing mitigation actions.
• Deliver prototypes and samples on time, meeting quality standards and cost targets in line with margin expectations.
• Input and maintain accurate data within PLM systems throughout the collection process.
• Liaise with suppliers for component orders, ensuring accurate tracking and alignment with budget requirements.
• Liaise with vendors for prototype and sample orders, maintaining updated sample trackers with relevant comments.
• Collaborate with the Merchandising team to ensure alignment with the range plan in terms of styles and cost structure.

PERSONAL PROFILE

• Ability to work in partnership with Designers, understanding and interpreting their creative vision and translating it for internal teams and vendors.
• Strong technical capability and product knowledge, with the ability to confidently support the Design team and provide on-the-spot solutions.
• Ability to manage vendor relationships, delivering clear briefs and leveraging partnerships to meet business needs.
• Respect of the critical path, ensuring collections are delivered on time, while identifying, escalating, and recommending actions to mitigate any risks or challenges.
• Ability to manage within budget, with strong commercial awareness and understanding of product costs, balancing creativity with commercial considerations throughout the development process.
• Proven experience working on-site with vendors, with solid operational knowledge of factories, delivering clear briefs and leveraging relationships and availability to meet business needs.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to share information effectively, and work confidently with cross-functional teams.
• In-depth knowledge of fashion and products within the relevant category, including strong fashion sensibility, awareness of trends, the market, the luxury consumer, and competitors.
• Computer skills: PLM, Excel.
• Fluent in English (B2 level).

FOOTER

Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.