Associate Product Developer - J&M

Genesco•Nashville, TN

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Footwear Associate Product Developer will be responsible for giving support in the development process of seasonal men’s footwear collections. This role collaborates closely with design, merchandising, technical teams, developers, and global partners to ensure the delivery of innovative, brand-right, and market-relevant products that meet performance, quality, cost, and timeline expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or Product Development and or related field of study.
Baseline understanding of the footwear industry and related componentry.
Basic understanding of footwear construction, materials and familiarity with Tech Packs, Specification Sheets, Bill of Materials and Sample Stages.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and industry-specific tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, Word and Smartsheet.
Ability to organize product data, as well as footwear samples, Lasts and leathers to maintain control at the office.
Strong analytical and structural thinking skills with a solid commercial mindset and problem-solving ability.
Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with global design, manufacturing, and sourcing teams.
Effective time management, highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to fast-paced development cycles.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

0 – 2 years of footwear industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage the product development process for seasonal men’s footwear collections, from concept to commercialization through an assigned Developer for orientation purposes.
Drive day-to-day sampling, prototyping, and mold development, ensuring alignment with design intent, fit standards, and performance requirements.
Partner with Design and Material teams to select components and constructions.
Drive engineering solutions that meet performance and cost targets.
Own the creation and accuracy of comprehensive tech packs, including 2D/3D specifications, bills of materials, cost breakdowns, and all supporting documentation.
Utilize Smartsheet tools to ensure accurate tracking, communication, and approval of development updates across global teams.
Contribute to innovation in Lasts, patterns, and materials, and construction methods in collaboration with the Senior Footwear Manager of Innovation, Designers, Developers, and factory partners.
Ensure product manufacturability while upholding brand quality standards.
Work through established timelines to ensure on-time commercialization and seasonal milestone adherence.
Assist the development, sourcing, and materials partners on testing and compound development to meet product and performance targets.