Columbia Sportswear, Inc.:
Director, Footwear Product Engineering Job in Burlington, VT

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.
At Columbia, were as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, were proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: Its perfect. Now make it better. As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE POSITION
Columbia Global Manufacturing brings product ideas to reality in order to connect active people with their passions. We cover everything from raw materials development, product development, fit engineering, quality, sourcing and then the Liaison Offices that manage the product manufacturing.

As the Director of Footwear Product Engineering, you will be responsible for setting overarching Global Footwear Product Engineering direction for Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC). You will achieve this by managing the Footwear Product Engineering staff, liaising with Product Creation counterparts domestically and around the world, and communicating a Global Footwear Engineering strategy to various internal and external audiences. Footwear engineering standards and best practices would be applied to product, supporting categories and from one season to the next will contribute to increased brand value while reducing product development & manufacturing costs. In addition, you will be responsible for aligning processes and procedures in collaboration with all footwear brands within CSC.

HOW YOULL MAKE A DIFFERENCESet and communicate Columbia Sportswears Footwear Engineering Vision to all internal and external partners (from Product Creation to Manufacturing Partners & Vendors to Marketing).
Set and manage Footwear Product Engineering category assignments, workload, and professional development.
Create and ensure Footwear Product Engineering Standards & Best Practices at the Global and Regional levels. This includes ensuring innovations in footwear are aligned to best practices.
Advise Product Creation team members (PLM, Design, PD, Fit Engineers, and Manufacturing) on Standards & Best Practice adoption that enhance the aesthetic, drive cost reduction and functional benefits of product.
Director of Footwear Product Engineering leads initiatives and recommends resource allocation, when required.
Provide pre Design Freeze options to optimize labor and material utilization.
Work with cross-functional team members, on a regular basis, to examine and performance benefits for the Columbia Consumer.
Stay informed and communicate relevant industry- and trend-related Footwear Engineering information to staff
Director of Footwear Engineering is responsible for the supervision of the Footwear Engineer Managers for Columbia and Sorel. Performance Goal setting and assessment of the Footwear Engineer staff is conducted by the Director of Footwear Engineering

YOU ARE Able to manage and/or influence people, teams, and projects
Able to troubleshoot, make difficult decisions independently, operate autonomously, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively under pressure

YOU HAVE A Bachelors degree in related field required. Advanced degree preferred. Successful completion of certified trade school in lieu of Bachelors degree
10-15 years functional experience in the specific areas of patternmaking, last / fit engineering, footwear material application, mass production / research & development and/or product creation in the Lifestyle, Active or Outdoor Apparel industry
Minimum 8 years experience managing a function or team
Experience with footwear manufacturing factories and product creation centers, with preference for on-floor experience in a manufacturing footwear manufacturing facility.
Advanced knowledge of patternmaking, last engineering, tooling, industry digital software standard and Columbia Sportswears end-user activities
Advanced knowledge of footwear construction and manufacturing practices is essential
Knowledge of the outdoor industry, manufacturing and material partners, and innovation contacts to be credible and influential with internal stakeholders
Proficiency in simplifying the complex to get team alignment with product creation stakeholders
Excellent organizational and presentation skills and attention to detail required

To learn more about what our employees are doing to help in the fight against COVID-19,click here.

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Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.


This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.


At Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. CSC believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.