Product Developer

Please note this is a Fixed Term Contract until November 2027.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Developer to join our growing Product team in the UK. Working closely with design team, you will play a key role in bringing their creative visions to life within the footwear category.

• Manage products throughout the development cycle, from Product Brief and Design Handover through to Commercialisation and Manufacturing, ensuring successful delivery at each stage.
• Drive adherence to the critical path, aligning processes and coordinating with cross-functional partners in the UK and Asia to ensure key milestones, delivery dates and project objectives are achieved.
• Partner closely with the Design team to translate creative vision into commercially viable products that deliver against aesthetic, functional, comfort and cost requirements.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Materials and Innovation teams to ensure footwear tooling delivers against Fit Flop's technology, fit, comfort and performance standards.
• Act as a key point of contact for development-related queries across Product Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Materials, Innovation, Planning and Marketing, ensuring effective communication and delivery of business objectives.
• Support and mentor junior team members, providing guidance throughout the product development process and fostering professional growth and collaborative working.
• Contribute to cost negotiations and margin management by conducting detailed cost engineering, cost breakdown analysis and value optimisation initiatives.
• Manage development activities to ensure timely delivery of samples, specs, budgets, PLM data, costings and supplier coordination in line with critical path requirements.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance development processes, efficiency and product quality season after season.
• Create, maintain and manage accurate product specifications and technical information, ensuring design intent is maintained from concept through to bulk production.
• Work closely with Asia-based teams and suppliers to deliver packaging solutions that are efficient, sustainable and aligned with Fit Flop's brand standards.
• Maintain accurate records, systems and administrative processes required to support effective product development and operational excellence.

• Solid experience of product development within the footwear industry – in a busy role you’ll quickly become a key member of the team
• Experience with blueprints and developing new tooling
• A real team player, and able to work in partnership with UK and APAC based teams across Design, Product Development, Materials, Product Merchandising, Innovation and Commercialization
• Experience working on footwear collaboration projects with external partners is beneficial for this position
• Commercially aware to work within costing budgets to successfully deliver products within brief
• In depth knowledge of footwear development and trends
• International experience – especially collaborating and working with factories, development centres and tanneries
• Organisation skills – helping to keep projects on time and running smoothly
• Advanced user of Microsoft Suite (especially Excel) is essential for this position
• PLM software experience is beneficial for this position

We recognise that not everyone will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and feel like you could add value, we’d love to hear from you.

• Product Allowance
• Hybrid and flexible working hours
• Summer Fridays (6 ½ days in July and August on Fridays)
• A day off for your Birthday
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays
• Work from anywhere for 2 weeks
• Work Place Nursery (salary sacrifice scheme…