BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income. The company is deeply footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774. With around 6200 employees worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK is the largest employer in the German footwear industry. To ensure our quality standards, we produce over 95% of our products in Germany and source more than 90% of our materials and components from Europe. The BIRKENSTOCK Group is headquartered in Linz am Rhein and maintains several locations in Germany, as well as sales offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

For our division Innovation, Professional, Orthopedics at our location in Cologne, we are looking for a 

Development Manager (m/f/d) Innovation Footwear

YOUR TASKS 

• Be a pioneer of tomorrow’s technical footwear solutions and manage new technical solutions all the way through ideation, planning, prototyping, 3D construction, mold making, preproduction, and bulk-ready process
• You focus especially on mold making and PU-related projects and tightly steer internal and external tool-making partners (own mold shop, external tool-engineering offices, external mold makers)
• You focus on the establishment of new (out of the box) constructions and components specialized in Professional Footwear, Orthopedic Products and Shoes
• You manage component developments with material suppliers from testing the sample material to production feasibility
• You take on responsibility for your projects and activate all relevant and needed resources of the organization to achieve the defined goals by using your project management skills
• Your curiosity about products, technical developments and production methods on the market enriches the innovation team and opens up new possibilities to create new products

YOUR PROFILE 

• Successfully completed vocational training or degree (or both) in a technical field e.g., shoe or industrial manufacturing
• Min. 5 years of working experience in the shoe, orthopedic or professional industry (or related)
• Knowledge about biomechanics, orthopedic needs, footwear functionality production technologies
• Know-how of footwear manufacturing methods, construction and materials
• Basic knowledge about orthopedic and biomechanic principles
• Skills in data management software (e.g., SAP) and project management
• Fit in MS Office
• Fluent in English, German is an advantage
• Very good communication and networking skills
• Willingness to travel

WE OFFER:

BIRKENSTOCK offers you all the advantages of a successful, fast growing, global company: dynamic work environment, considerable design freedom, authentic and open corporate culture and excellent development opportunities. Sounds exciting? It is. We are looking forward to receiving your online application, stating your salary expectations!

If you have any further questions, please contact Alizé Smith.