Director, Footwear Development

Tecovas is the first direct-to-consumer western brand, founded with the simple goal of making the world’s best western boots, apparel and leather goods - and selling them at a fair price. We are a brand revolutionizing a category and welcoming first-time boot buyers and western enthusiasts alike.

Tecovas is looking for a Director, Footwear Development to facilitate and manage all aspects of creating technical footwear product specifications from design through to approved final prototypes.

This position is based out of Austin, TX where you will work the majority of the time. The role includes some flexibility to work remotely. There is travel to Leon, Mexico or Asia multiple times per year.

What you’ll do:

• Manage communication flow between design, development, product line management, and international partners.
• Collaborate with design, merchandising, and overseas team members to create tech packs and develop footwear from concept through commercialization ready prototypes to achieve both the desired consumer facing aesthetic while maintaining production and quality viability.
• Effectively evaluate leathers and materials for physical characteristics and function in order to specify appropriate materials for development projects and ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitate team’s ability to meet seasonal design and development calendar timelines.
• Initiate and lead meetings with product teams during various development phases to review, evaluate, update and drive the decision making process that leads to on–time production and target margin.
• Document and track development accurately throughout the entire process while clearly communicating results, improvements, and final approval that meet product creation timelines.
• Conduct initial fit of all pullovers and prototypes throughout development phases. Partner with the development and sourcing team to achieve high levels of fit consistency.
• Actively resolve product development issues through collaborating with all teams in finding cost-effective and timely solutions to prevent financial and lead-time impacts.
• Analyze and review factory cost breakdown sheets and negotiate final costing to achieve financial product margin targets.
• Proactively communicate on all product development execution. Maintain open and transparent communication across corporate and overseas teams.
• Strive for continuous improvement in areas of product integrity, ongoing efficiency improvements, cost savings and fit consistency.
• Responsible for traveling to international factories and external partners to ensure rapid communication for raw material development, product development, prototyping, and relationship management.
• Keep library of lasts updated with new patterns and series number once graded.
• Keep an updated inventory of leathers, and other components at headquarters.
• Serve as a key stakeholder, working side by side with designers, to review all sample rounds (pullover, prototype, development, fit, confirmation, TOP) and enhance production quality consistency.

Experience we’re looking for:

• 8 - 10 years’ experience interpreting footwear designs and developing successful product collections that meet brand standards.  
• Strong knowledge of footwear constructions like, but not limited to: Goodyear Welt , Cement, Direct Attach, and Safety/Non-Safety products.
• 6 to 8 years’ experience conducting fit test of sample sizes for footwear products to approve and prepare for handoff to Commercialization. Bonus for working specifically with “True Fit” Slip on products.
• Extensive experience working with high quality leathers and materials.
• Strong understanding of footwear development steps and process from inception to pre-production approved samples.
• Experience managing the process of developing footwear lasts, last making, molds, and initial development to pre-production ready products.
• Contemporary knowledge of product construction, materials, design applications, costing, lab testing and molds.
• Experience working and clearly communicating with Asia based offices and vendors. Additional experience working in Mexico a plus.
• You possess the skills of footwear manufacturing necessary to trouble shoot possible issues, recommend, and implement solutions.

What you bring to the table:

• You can easily interpret design intent/product needs and offer alternative solutions.
• You are a self-starter that thrives in a start-up environment; a quick learner; an out of the box thinker, and active problem solver.
• Your skills include being a highly effective collaborator and team player with a track record for excellent communication and relationship building.
• You are detail oriented with exceptional follow through skills.
• You possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• You are a positive contributor with a team based attitude and part of the solution, offering your insights and digging in to do the work, while keeping the Brand’s DNA the focus.
• You have proven experience in Footwear Constructions, Fit, Calendar Management, Materials, and Fit Testing.

Full Time Benefits & Perks:

• We offer insurance plans that pay 99% of your health premium coverage and 100% of your dental & vision insurance coverage for your family/dependents
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible PTO policy
• Corporate wellness program
• Competitive salary
• Generous employee discounts!

About Us:

Tecovas was born out of a love for cowboy boots, their time-honored craftsmanship, rich materials that last, and traditional styling that always looks good. Each pair of Tecovas boots is crafted by hand in over 200 steps. It’s not the easiest or cheapest method, but we’re committed to classic construction techniques that stand the test of time. With 21 retails stores (and counting) across the Austin, Dallas and Southeast regions, we’re bringing western goods into new frontiers and aim to be the most welcoming brand in western. We’re certainly growing- and hiring passionate, humble, positive, and talented people determined to help us continue to grow!

Important note: We strive to hire values-aligned people because we believe it takes each and all of us to be successful, and lead with grit, speed and a clear vision of where we’re headed. In a remote setting, interviewing at Tecovas may include phone interviews, virtual “on-site” interviews, and on-the-job mock cases. We are committed to run a thorough process for candidates with whom we identify a potential match, and we will do our best to follow-up with each and every applicant! If you’re on the fence, just give it a try!