Footwear Production Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage day to day interface with factory management related to pre- and bulk production issues and ensure appropriate escalation of serious issues to Country Sourcing Manager.
• Check the Dr. Martens seasonal GTM calendar key deadlines are understood and adhered to by the factory management.
• Drive commercialization process to ensure factory's timely production of White seal samples and submission for Gold seal approval. Check that such samples are matching the signed off specifications in line with the standards of Red seal samples. Make sure any delays are actioned with urgency. Secure the Gold seal samples returns to the factory, with Gold seal attached, prior to start of production.
• Make sure T3 and T4 preproduction samples are signed off by the local Reg. Quality Manager before start of mass production.
• Follow-up any assigned new Counter Sourcing Option (CSO) with the factory management. Make sure all specifications and tools are received and understood by the factory management, and that counter samples are produced with the right materials and getting submitted on time for Gold sealing. Work with closely the Sourcing Development Mgrs in problem solving key items that may occur during Fit and Wear Test sampling.
• Work with factory management to improve their cost competitiveness, leverage from best practices, do value engineering where opportunities exist and make sure they deliver CBDs in a timely manner. Provide input and data to the Country Manager to support the accurate preparation and negotiation of seasonal CBD prices, and follow-up factory's awareness of opportunities to improve line productivity and/or best practices across DrM and industry supplier base.
• Make sure any Collabs are sampled, price quoted and produced to spec respecting the aggressive go to market deadlines.
• Proactively check reality and report to Country Sourcing Manager and Dr. Martens Supply Planning Dept. the on-time delivery status (Ready-to-ship) reported by factory management into the TLO application. Drive action where delays occur.
• Follow-up on at-source có all VAS and packaging requirements are understood and executed customization as per spec.
• Communicate and work with the factory management so that they are understanding and incorporating all Dr. Martens' key SOPs. Understand the product and vision of Dr. Martens and educate the factory management to understand those as well.
• Ensure samples are made according to spec and up to the DrM standards.
• Participate and support the Development activities in all assigned factories, providing feedback in critical stages such as due diligence and counter source options.
• Drive continuous improvement, develop existing infrastructure and processes so that they are both robust and scalable.
• Be the Dr. Martens eyes and ears in the factory, and brief the Country Manager on any violation versus Dr. Martens Standards and policies.
• Monitor day to day factory production schedules to ensure projects and production complete and ship on time. 
• Be a role model of a Dr. Martens custodian.

REQUIREMENTS: Minimum 5-8 years' experience working with Factories with a strong product timeline and processing background.

• Experience of working in a branded footwear product development and/or production environment.
• Knowledge of product development, commercialization, bulk manufacturing, and quality management procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of footwear constructions, materials, and all areas of footwear and component manufacturing.
• Strong Communication, organizational, and negotiation skills. Self-motivated with the ability to work with little or no supervision and possess the ability to manage teams. 
• Familiar with footwear CAD systems and PC literate.