Product Development Manager - New Creations - Footwear (Kids)

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About the role

CONTEXT AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Development Manager New Creations Kids is responsible for leading the product development process for assigned footwear categories, ensuring designs are translated into commercially viable, innovative, and consumer-right products. Based at HQ, this role partners closely with Design, Product Management, Sourcing, and Asia-based development teams to bring seasonal collections to life on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

MAIN REPONSIBILITIES
Product Development
* Manage the end-to-end development process for assigned categories, from design handoff to final confirmation.
* Translate design concepts into manufacturable products, balancing creativity with technical feasibility.
* Ensure all products meet brand standards for quality, fit, performance, and cost.
* Review prototypes, wear-test results, and production samples; provide actionable feedback to Asia teams.
* Partner with Materials and Engineering teams to integrate innovation and sustainability goals.
Project Management
* Oversee seasonal calendars and ensure all deadlines are achieved across multiple categories.
* Coordinate daily communication between HQ and Asia development offices/factories.
* Anticipate and resolve issues in sampling, costing, or production that may affect deadlines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Work closely with Design to problem-solve construction, fit, and material challenges.
* Partner with the Product Merch team on target costing, product briefs, and line planning alignment.
* Collaborate with Asia development managers to ensure smooth handoffs and execution.
* Provide leadership visibility on risks, opportunities, and progress updates throughout the season.

Profile

* Solid footwear development experience, with established leadership experience.
* Experience of managing remote teams in Asia essential.
* Strong technical knowledge of footwear construction, pattern engineering, and manufacturing processes.
* Proven track record of bringing consumer-right footwear to market on time and to standard.
* Experience working with Asia-based factories or development centers.
* Skilled in calendar management and project prioritization.
* Proficiency in PLM systems and digital development tools (3D CAD preferred).
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience in cross-cultural collaboration

Equal opportunities

At Lacoste, we are committed to making equal opportunities a reality. Inherited from our unique vision of fashion-sport, equal opportunities move us forward and our recruitment methods follow this commitment by focusing on skills and embracing all types of talents. We commit to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where elegance goes beyond style and where each of us is given the chance to fulfill our greatest potential