Footwear Fit Specialist

General Function

Wolverine Worldwide is a global marketer of branded footwear, apparel, and accessories. With an established global footprint that spans approximately 200 countries and territories, as well as a rock-solid infrastructure, Wolverine Worldwide is dedicated to advancing the following brands that comprise the ever-expanding portfolio: Bates, Chaco, Cat Footwear, Harley Davidson Footwear, Hush Puppies, Keds, Merrell, Saucony, Sperry, Sweaty Betty and Wolverine. Wolverine Worldwide’s continued success is driven by our ability to stay true to our simple mission: we empower, engage and inspire our consumers – every step of the way.

The Footwear Fit Specialist is accountable for the commercialization process preparing footwear product for mass production.  This includes but not limited to achieving proper fit characteristics by brand and meeting the generally accepted quality standards, as set for the corporation while maintaining design aesthetic.  Consult with the design and development teams, when requested, in reviewing and correcting new products at prototype or sample stages.

Primary Duties

• Establish, evaluate, achieve, and maintain fit, performance and aesthetic standards for all footwear products from last development through production.  Communicate discrepancies, corrections, and or approvals with offshore production facilities, product development and PI Footwear Fit teams, including corporate Quality Assurance, when needed.  
• Leads the commercialization approval process from initial Model size (T1) fit approval at pattern level through to pre-production (T4) stages.
• Liaison between offshore PI Commercialization teams, quality assurance, and brand development teams globally.
• Ensures deadlines established in the critical path calendar for T1 through T4 processes are achieved for adopted products to enable on-time production delivery.
• Monitors and participates in critical path process with weekly updates for the brands.  Ensure each product commercialization file is accurately maintained in the corporate PLM database system.
• Advise critical path owner of status ensuring timely data entry into PLM for footwear product adoption buy ready process.
• Facilitate material and footwear lab testing when required by brand.
• Mentor junior PI Footwear Fit team members.
• Participate in investigations for global sizing (fit) and related manufacturing issues partnering with appropriate team members.
• Recommend product applicable for wear test.  Establish and conduct wear test program to ensure product adheres to all manufacturing, material performance, quality, and overall comfort requirements.
• Maintain a current fit test data base as well as wear test panel member group with detailed foot size information data for the company.
• Perform duties consistent with the company's AAP/EEO goals and policies. 
• Performs other duties as required/assigned by manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in footwear sourcing, quality, engineering, and fit preferably footwear manufacturing experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication, and organizational skills, computer literacy, including experience with Windows, MS Office.
• Strong team player with the ability to work closely with the other members of the Product Integrity team to ensure the best quality service is given to the brands

WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal office environment. Some domestic and international travel may be required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule. 

Committed to a diverse workforce, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled).

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