Footwear Developer

Dubizzle Limited; Warrington; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based footwear brand is seeking a Footwear Developer to lead the creative and technical development of their product range. You will manage the lifecycle from material sourcing to production, contributing to product innovation while ensuring quality and market compliance. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years' experience in footwear development, a passion for fashion, and the ability to balance artistic vision with commercial goals. The role includes competitive benefits such as generous holiday allowance, annual bonuses, and private healthcare.

Benefits

32 Days Holiday + Birthday off

Generous staff discount

Annual bonus scheme

Private Healthcare

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• 3 – 5 years previous experience in a footwear development role.
• Experience working across markets in Europe and Asia.
• A commitment to the highest quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Researching new materials and sustainability initiatives.
• Leading technical execution of all designs with the Footwear Manager.
• Establishing strong relationships with global suppliers.

Skills

Footwear development

Materials research

Supplier negotiation

Project management

Creative design

Job description

ARNE is a UK-based apparel and footwear brand based in Birchwood Park, near Warrington. We design and develop all our products in the UK, working with trusted manufacturing partners across both the near and far east.

All our products are available directly to customers through ARNEclo.com, offering a seamless online shopping experience. We’re also proud to be stocked in Selfridges, both in-store and online, and we’ve recently opened our first permanent retail store at Liverpool ONE – a huge milestone for the brand.

Looking ahead, we have ambitious goals for the next decade, and the team firmly believes they’re all achievable. From launching new product categories and expanding internationally to investing in paid media, CRM, and growing our retail presence — the next chapter for ARNE is shaping up to be an exciting one. And this is only the beginning!

We’ve come a long way from starting out in Mum’s bungalow back in 2018 to our all-new, fully bespoke HQ. This space will be our home for at least the next 5–10 years, and while it’s not quite our style to shout too loudly, it’s here that we plan to reach our goals, take ARNE global, and further establish ourselves as a truly iconic UK brand.

A successful Footwear Developer will:

Blend creative vision with technical expertise, ensuring all footwear designs combine innovative design, functional performance, and commercial viability. You will excel at managing the full development lifecycle - from material research and supplier collaboration to testing, costing, and timeline management, while maintaining exceptional quality standards.

You will impact ARNE’s Strategy through:

Driving product innovation to ensure ARNE remains ahead of industry and consumer trends. You’ll contribute to positive margin improvement through optimising development processes, and delivering high-quality, market-leading footwear on time and within budget, directly shaping the brand’s competitive edge and support its long-term growth across both men’s and womenswear.

If you have a passion for the fashion industry and want to join us on our exciting journey please apply today!

Your day-to-day role and responsibilities include:

• Researching new materials, sustainability initiatives, and advanced manufacturing techniques to elevate quality and differentiation of ARNE’s footwear range.
• Supporting the Footwear Manager with leading the technical execution of all designs, ensuring optimal fit, functionality, and performance across categories.
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with global suppliers and manufacturers, negotiating costs, timelines, and quality standards.
• Managing timelines, and project deliverables, ensuring on-time delivery and seamless execution of the development process.
• Working closely with marketing, merchandising, and operations teams to ensure a cohesive, market-leading product offering.
• Working with the Quality Team to ensure rigorous testing and compliance processes to guarantee product durability, comfort, and performance.
• Staying ahead of industry trends, consumer demands, and competitor activity to inform product innovation and future collections.
• Any other ad hoc duties as required.

About You:

• 3 – 5 years previous experience in a footwear development role.
• Experience working across markets in Europe and Asia (Vietnam and Portugal preferable)
• A deep understanding of footwear development, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• A passion for pushing creative and technical boundaries, with a strong grasp of emerging trends and technologies.
• The ability to balance creative vision with business objectives, cost targets, and commercial viability.
• A commitment to the highest quality standards, ensuring every product meets both design and performance criteria.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to cross-functional teamwork.

Benefits

• We are proud to be recognised as a Medium sized Sunday Times Best Place to Work for 2025
• 32 Days Holiday (including Bank Holidays) + your Birthday off
• Holidays increasing up to 36 days with service
• Option to buy / sell holidays
• Generous staff discount
• Annual and quarterly bonus schemes based on company performance
• Private Healthcare including Dental & Optical Plans after probation
• Health Cash Plan from day one
• Life assurance paying 5x annual salary from day one
• Discounted marketplace with money off/cash back from 100’s of places
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme

ARNE are an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diverse people bring different skills and are committed to ensuring our business support the needs of potential colleagues from Ethnic Minority backgrounds and colleagues who may be disabled or neurodiverse. We are committed creating a great place to work through diversity and inclusivity and we strongly encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds to join our growing team.