Job Description

Job Title: Head of Footwear R&D – Sports Footwear Innovation

Client:

Our client are a leading women’s footwear brand know for combining fashion forward design, sustainable materials, and innovative technology. They provide minimalistic aesthetic designs to a global market.

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and technically accomplished Head of Footwear R&D to lead innovation in our sports footwear category. In this critical leadership role, you will drive the development of next-generation performance technologies from advanced materials and construction methods to comfort and biomechanical engineering ensuring our products consistently exceed athlete expectations and outperform the competition. You’ll spearhead a high-performing R&D team and collaborate across Design, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Product Strategy to bring breakthrough footwear solutions to market.

Key Responsibilities

• Technology Innovation & R&D Leadership
• Champion the end-to-end research, development, and commercialization of cutting-edge sports footwear technologies, with a strong emphasis on material science, midsole/outsole systems, and performance-enhancing innovations.
• Define and execute the technical roadmap aligned with brand strategy, market opportunities, and athlete needs.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a global technical R&D team, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• End-to-To-End Product Development
• Own the full product development lifecycle—from concept and prototyping through testing, validation, and mass production—ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery without compromising quality or performance.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between R&D, Design, Engineering, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to resolve complex challenges and accelerate time-to-market.
• Quality & Technical Standards
• Establish and enforce rigorous technical specifications, performance benchmarks, and quality control protocols across all footwear programs.
• Proactively identify and mitigate production risks, ensuring consistency, durability, and compliance at scale.
• Market & Competitive Intelligence
• Monitor global trends, emerging technologies, and competitor advancements to inform R&D priorities and uncover white-space opportunities.
• Translate consumer insights, athlete feedback, and market data into actionable technical strategies that elevate product differentiation and brand leadership.
• Team Development & Knowledge Sharing
• Build and nurture a world-class R&D organization through strategic hiring, career development, and performance management.
• Promote cross-functional learning by facilitating technical workshops, innovation forums, and knowledge-transfer initiatives.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive experience in sports footwear R&D, with at least 10 years in senior technical leadership roles (e.g., R&D Director, Head of Innovation, or equivalent).
• Deep expertise in footwear construction, material science (e.g., foams, textiles, sustainable alternatives), biomechanics, and manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, 3D printing, bonding techniques).
• Proven track record of translating innovative concepts into commercially successful, high-performance products at scale.
• Strong project management acumen with the ability to orchestrate complex, cross-functional initiatives under tight deadlines.
• Strategic thinker with敏锐的市场嗅觉 (keen market intuition)—able to pivot technical direction based on evolving consumer demands and competitive dynamics.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills; fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese (written and spoken).
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

Suitable candidates should apply now along with their innovative footwear portfolio for further details, we regret to inform that only the right applicants will be chosen to interview.