As Operations & Manufacturing Director, your role will be to provide exceptional standards in quality of service to our retail and distributor partners to ensure the correct product reaches all relevant markets in time and in perfect condition.
This includes Operations, Capacity Planning, Production, Factory Management, and Quality Control function.
This role will suit a smart, commercial and enthusiastic manufacturing professional, keen to take on responsibility in growing and changing organisation that values a pro-active approach.

The Responsibilities:
Production:

• Ensure seasonal design strategies have the correct allocated factories to produce the right product in the right location

• Capacity planning management- secure seasonal/monthly factory/supplier production capacity with the forecast and level loading to maximize capacity utilization
• Establish manufacturing leadtime to meet GRD (Goods Ready Date) set up for different product types
• Buy Ready- verify with PD, Material, and Commercialization team effectively manage all requirements to be signed-off for production.
• Track delivery schedule from material/component suppliers to ensure timely delivery to factory
• Monitor production processes and make necessary improvements to increase efficiency
• Implement manufacturing best practices that are unique to product categories for optimal results.
• Factory management – continuous review of factory performance and feeding back to relevant areas in the business
• OTIF (On-Time In Full) – responsible for achieving the agreed customer service measures in relation to delivering stock in an accurate and timely way and within the agreed service levels
• Costing – Identify cost saving opportunities in the areas of materials, shoe construction, LOP (efficiencies/productivities) and create consensus around cost optimization to maximize profit margins
• Ensure that all manufacturing agreements are up to date and are being adhered to company policy
• Partner with Sustainability Team to enforce factory safety protocols and work environment meets corporate social responsibilities, chemical VOC reduction, introduce renewable/sustainable solutions

Quality:

• Ensuring that all product and component of product is made to spec and has been appropriately quality tested and approved for production
• Implement quality KPIs that are measurable and show continuous improvement
• Implement quality program and maintain control procedures to ensure products meet standards and specifications

Operational Efficiency:

• To work with Finance, IT and Sales to create efficient processes that reflect the needs of the business and are continuously improved
• Reduce lead time of the buying process on main wholesale business
• Define and implement a fast react product to market process (for retail or other purposes)
Execute innovation requirements as required and present new findings proactively from Asia to the innovation team

Leadership & People:

• You will be a senior member of the business team, working with international leaders driving the practical operational needs of the businesses to meet our global strategic goals
• Provide management and coaching of direct reports and their teams, giving stretch goals and conducting regular performance reviews, providing feedback and support through continuous development.
Ensure the correct structure is in place globally to meet the ongoing and changing needs of the business

The Person:

• Proven experience in a global Brand with a significant footwear line – you will understand the complexities of how to make footwear
• Strong technical understanding of footwear constructions, lasts, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience of Production, Quality and Supply chain management essential
• Experience of driving change to deliver improvements in an organisation
• Solid people management skills
• Analytical with ability to understand key business drivers and financials
• Independent thinker – has conviction and tenacity and takes initiative without waiting to be asked
• Proactive nature – ability to identify the need for change and drive it through to action
• Customer-centric and commercial in your approach, you will enjoy working in a developing business – with all the growth pains that come with it!
• A pragmatic style with the ability to grasp complex issues and recommend and deliver solutions
• Ability to multi-task and meet simultaneous tight deadlines
• Resourceful and creative, focuses on getting the right things done within time commitments
• Has relentlessly high standards and expects the same from her/his team
• Strategic thinking - The ability to broaden thinking and anticipate priorities for future action

The Benefits:
We’re all about giving people the tools to be the best they can be. Because, when we’re at our best (happy and healthy) together we have the power to do something amazing and really deliver. Our benefits include medical and social insurances, pension contribution, holiday, free pairs and product discounts, Fit Flop Feel-Good program (including everything from mindfulness to financial wellbeing) and a full blended learning and development calendar.