MATERIAL R&D SPECIALIST - SHOES

Being part of LOEWE gives you the opportunity of learning new things every day and working with people passionate about what they do, in a fast-moving and ambitious company. Material R&D Specialist – Shoes The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities and crucial tasks to ensure the quality and innovation of materials used in footwear production. Below is a summary of the main duties listed: Identification of Research Projects: Monitor fashion trends to identify targeted research projects potentially beneficial to the brand. Proposals for New Materials: Provide suggestions and proposals for new materials to present to the Style Office, based on brand characteristics, always considering designer needs. Definition of Materials for Collections: Collaborate with the Style Office to define the materials to be researched and used for individual collection projects. Evaluation of Materials in Prototyping: Collaborate with Product Development to assess the characteristics of selected materials during the prototyping phase. Definition of Quality Specifications: Establish the quality specifications of raw materials and identify the best suppliers based on brand requirements. Material Industrialization: Manage the industrialization process of each selected material during the sampling phase. Development Specifications: Prepare, update, and/or optimize the development specifications of the brand's raw materials and participate in design sessions with material suppliers. Coordination of Analysis Laboratories: Oversee physical and chemical analysis laboratories for footwear raw materials and collaborate with analysts in creating and managing technical data sheets. Master Management: Develop, coordinate, and manage masters for each industrialized material. Raw Material Archive Management: Manage physical archives of all footwear materials processed by the brand, both at brand locations and at warehouses and logistics facilities of companies responsible for raw material management, as well as at manufacturing companies, footwear factories, and tanneries. This management includes administrative stock keeping, product-related documents, technical data sheets, colour swatches, and anything else relevant to this responsibility. Production Problem Management: Anticipate and resolve any production problems related to leather in collaboration with suppliers and production cutting and manufacturing managers. Coordination of External Consultancies: Manage external consultancies for footwear material research, development, and industrialization. Quality Control and Logistics Services Management: Coordinate quality control, measurement, and logistics management services for outsourced leather orders. Required Qualifications Min 5 years experience in the role, with specific reference to shoes and to the luxury industry Excellent and wide knowledge of tanneries and suppliers based on materials type Excellent knowledge of materials (special focus on leathers and exotics) and of production processes. Excellent Italian and good English level, both spoken and written. Troubleshooting experience Problem-solving skills and team player, proven experience working with design and PD teams, able to also work autonomously Great communication and organization skills - ability to manage priorities and time, and to manage a correct communication and collaboration with shoe making factories. Highly proactive and problem solving profile Encouraging diversity in all its forms, LOEWE is committed to the employment of people with disabilities. We celebrate diversity and are committed to create and foster an inclusive environment for all. Seniority level Associate Employment type Full-time Job function Production and Product Management Industries: Retail Apparel and Fashion #J-18808-Ljbffr