About the job
As an Engineer in Sourcing Development for Footwear, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality of development samples and meeting milestone dates according to the product creation calendar. You will manage commercialization timelines, coordinate Tier 2 activities at assigned factories, and ensure engineering for productivity, product quality, integrity, and performance in line with brand policies and best practices.
You will be accountable for production-related activities at nominated vendors, ensuring adherence to VF standards, SOPs, and on-time performance. You will also support VF's CSR standards and strategic initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage development processes with Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors across all sample stages
- Inspect development samples, including sales samples across countries of origin
- Conduct activities related to new bottoms, uppers, color-ups, fit approval, material testing, wear testing, swatch sign-off, and cost approval
- Plan Buy Ready process by SKU
- Communicate product and performance requirements to vendors
- Solve issues related to construction, performance, costing, and process
- Coordinate factory capacity and material
purchasing aligned with production calendar
- Review tech package information and confirm pattern grading and tooling readiness
- Confirm sample size patterns and molds for salesman samples
- Assist in building production specifications
- Propose and implement cost-saving, efficiency, automation, and quality improvement ideas
- Conduct Tech 2 trials and confirm fit and wear testing
- Introduce new products and cascade quality risks during tear-down and NPI meetings
- Provide support as needed during pre-production and production phases
