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Product Development Manager (Quality) – Adult Footwear & AccessoriesHead Office
As a Product Development Manager, you will be responsible for developing commercially viable, customer-focused and trend-led Footwear & Accessories products that meet both customer and market demands. Acting as the gatekeeper of quality, brand integrity, safety and legal compliance, you will be a key part of the George Quality team.
In this role, you will drive and execute the company-wide quality strategy across Footwear & Accessories, ensuring alignment across Buying, Design, Sourcing, Sustainability and Compliance teams. You will ensure products are developed and manufactured in the most appropriate factories, delivering quality, value and innovation from the outset.
This position requires close collaboration with Product, Sourcing, Compliance, Sustainability and extended teams to deliver innovative, safe, compliant and commercially successful products that exceed customer expectations.
Role Duties & Tasks
Product Quality, Development & Technical Leadership
- Ensure all Footwear & Accessories products sold by George/Asda are safe, legal and meet all relevant market standards.
- Stay informed on current and emerging legal, technical, sustainability and safety requirements affecting footwear and accessory categories.
- Drive product innovation, material development and technical enhancements
- Add value and reduce costs through strategic product engineering, material optimisation and supplier efficiencies.
- Review and improve processes and standard operating procedures
- Identify product risks early within the development process and support design, sourcing and costing decisions.
- Oversee the product development lifecycle from concept through to production approval
- Develop products with a strong focus on functionality, durability, comfort, performance and customer value.
- Lead supplier technical reviews to ensure products are fit for purpose and meet George quality expectations.
- Uphold a "Right Product, Right Factory, Right First Time" approach in line with George Technical and Product Integrity standards.
- Monitor quality performance, customer complaints, non-conformities and supplier corrective action plans.
- Manage product withdrawals, safety incidents and recalls where required.
Supplier & Relationship Management
- Develop and manage a strategic global supply base
- Build strong supplier partnerships
- Review supplier performance regularly
- Work cross-functionally with Ethical, Buying, Design, Sourcing and Merchandise teams
- Support supplier capability building through technical training, factory visits and development programmes.
- Lead quality action plans arising from audits, due diligence reviews, returns analysis and customer complaints.
Compliance & Quality Ownership
- Act as the category expert and gatekeeper of product quality, safety, sustainability and legal compliance.
- Ensure all products meet relevant UK, EU and international product safety regulations.
- Own product testing strategies across Footwear & Accessories categories.
Strong understanding of testing requirements including:
Footwear:
- Slip resistance
- Sole bond adhesion
- Flex resistance
- Heel attachment
- Abrasion resistance
- Water resistance
- Performance durability testing
- Wear trials
Accessories:
- Strap and handle strength
- Zip performance
- Coating adhesion
- Jewellery safety requirements
- Corrosion testing
- Packaging compliance
- Durability and performance testing
Chemical Compliance:
- REACH regulations
- Restricted Substance Lists (RSL)
- Nickel release
- Heavy metals
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde
- PFAS and emerging legislation
- Lead implementation of quality improvement plans based on customer feedback, returns analysis and compliance data.
- Monitor testing performance, claims and factory quality metrics.
- Handle crisis management processes including recalls, withdrawals and product safety issues.
Market & Competitor Awareness & Sustainability & Ethical Trading
- Continually monitor competitor activity, customer trends, innovation and market developments
- Use competitor benchmarking to drive product improvements
- Lead category quality strategies to support business growth and competitive advantage.
- Drive sustainability initiatives and responsible sourcing strategies
- Support the use of preferred and lower-impact materials, including recycled fibres, recycled synthetics, responsibly sourced cotton, recycled metals and alternative material innovations.
- Partner with suppliers to reduce environmental impact
- Ensure adherence to George ethical sourcing standards, human rights requirements and responsible manufacturing practices.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor and develop Junior and Assistant Product Developers to build technical excellence and future capability.
- Foster a high-performance culture through collaboration, coaching and continuous learning.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and development planning.
- Support succession planning, recruitment and talent development within the team.
- Drive engagement and strong cross-functional relationships across the wider business.
- Build technical capability and product expertise across the department.
- Support speed to market through efficient technical decision-making and supplier collaboration.
- Maintain strong factory performance through robust testing, quality reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience within Footwear and/or Accessories Product Development, Product Integrity, Technical or Quality functions.
- Strong understanding of footwear construction, accessories manufacturing and product engineering principles.
- Proven experience managing testing programmes and interpreting technical reports.
- In-depth knowledge of product safety legislation, REACH requirements and Restricted Substance Programmes.
- Strong knowledge of factory manufacturing processes, product risk assessment and supplier quality management.
- Understanding of sustainability principles, ethical sourcing and responsible manufacturing practices.
- Experience leading supplier performance improvements and corrective action plans.
- Strong commercial awareness, problem-solving capability and decision-making skills.
- Proven leadership experience with a track record of coaching and developing teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Desirable
- Experience within large-scale retail or international sourcing environments.
- Experience working across Footwear, Bags, Belts, Jewellery and Fashion Accessories.
- Understanding of Digital Product Passports, Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and emerging sustainability legislation.
- Experience using customer insight, product reviews and returns data to drive quality improvements
Everything you'll love
To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots.
You will also get an excellent benefits package including:
Discretionary company bonus
Company pension up to 7% matched
Company Car allowance of £5,700
15% colleague discount in store and online
Free access to wellbeing services such as Stream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.
Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated
Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.
We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves
Find your everything
Apply here
Why Asda?
We’re a really values-led organisation. Our mission means we encourage everyone to be open and honest. We work creatively and collaboratively with each other, valuing everyone’s input. We get on with things, we make them happen. As so many people across the UK rely on us, we have to.
Our Creating Change for Better programme tackles the major challenges facing our business and society today and guides our efforts on where we can make the biggest difference by reducing our environmental footprint, creating healthier products and supporting our communities.
Big businesses like ours offer big opportunities. With more than 1,000 stores across the UK, from superstores and Asda Living to petrol stations, as well as depots and Express stores. £60m+ in revenue taken every day. We conduct £300m worth of transactions every week. Our website handles 2 million transactions a month. And 75% of the UK shop in Asda every year.
Rewards and Recognition
Free remote GP service
Available to you, your partner and your children, 24/7, year round.
Pension
Save for retirement with contributions paid into your pension account by you and Asda.
Free physiotherapy consultations
Helping you and your partner take care of yourselves with 8 free sessions per year.
Colleague discounts
15% off at our stores - get discounts on groceries and George all year round.
Car cash allowance
Eligible colleagues will receive a cash allowance as part of their benefits package. In addition, all salaried colleagues can choose to register for the Salary Sacrifice Electric Car scheme*.
(*Conditions apply)
Mortgage advice
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, renewing your mortgage, looking at buy to lets, or simply after some advice in getting a mortgage, get free* unbiased advice through the Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB), one the UKs largest mortgage brokers.
Confidential support helpline
Find free emotional, practical, and financial support that’s fully confidential, through a helpline that’s available 24/7, year round.
Cycle to work
Buy a bike through this scheme and save on tax and national insurance.
Financial support
Find financial wellbeing tools and support, including the ability to stream your pay.
Free eye tests
Head to our in store opticians for a free checkup and take care of your vision.
Bonus
Sharing our success with a discretionary bonus scheme for salaried colleagues that really rewards your contributions.
Cancer support
Guidance and support for you and your family, from before diagnosis, to treatment and beyond.
Paid time off
From holiday to sick leave and other types of leave, such as parental leave.
Mental health support
Access free mental health support for you and your family.
Support and advice with care
If you’re supporting older family or friends with care and support, find free, confidential information, expert support, and guidance about later life care for your loved ones through the Legal & General Care Concierge service.
Hybrid working
To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots
Save money on every day spends
Access to hundreds of high-street discounted Vouchers, discounts on days out, gym memberships, airport parking, and more
Setting your loved ones up for the future
As part of the team, you’ll get life assurance.
Guaranteed contracted hours
All colleagues are guaranteed weekly contracted hours / guaranteed weekly shifts via their contract of employment which is agreed with the hiring manager.
Holiday buying
Once a year our salaried colleagues are able to buy up to 5 additional days holiday via salary sacrifice (subject to eligibility).
Everything that makes us different, makes us Asda
Our colleague-led inclusion networks, including our DisAbility, Race & Ethnicity, Women at Asda, LGBTQIA+, and our Wellbeing Network, are all about giving our colleagues a space to share their stories, experiences, and perspective. Supported by our dedicated Executive Ambassadors and led by our ten passionate co-chairs, our Networks help us make changes that make life better for every colleague.
Transforming communities and changing lives
Our stores, distribution centres, and head offices work in local communities across the UK – and we want to be a real part of making a difference for them. From our amazing 400 Community Champions to our charity, The Asda Foundation, we’ve got loads of ways to help local groups and charities. Our outreach programmes, grants, and Community Champions are all about listening to our communities’ needs – to shape projects and initiatives that will make a real impact for local people.
Our commitment to the Armed Forces
Here at Asda, we’re dedicated to helping the Armed Forces rediscover their everything after service. We guarantee interviews for people who have left service and meet the minimum criteria for a role, provide leave for reservists’ training, support for cadet training, and employment opportunities for their partners. And that’s why we have over a thousand new colleagues from the Armed Forces Service Leaver Community join us every year.
Roles at George
The brand that revolutionised the UK fashion market, our George teams are all about style – at a fashionable price. So from school uniforms and home essentials to clothes hauls, every customer can find everything they need, and a style that’s completely their own.
George House
Nestled in the Midlands countryside in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, is the heart of all things George. With free parking as well as collaborative working spaces and meeting rooms, you’ll also find a George sample store here. So, you can grab discounted products before heading to Leon, where you can get discounted coffee and snacks, or to our shop, where you can find Asda Food-to-Go.
The most exciting thing about my role is travel. We get to go to LA, Tokyo, New York, the list goes on! And that travel helps inspire our designs.
Sophie,
Junior Designer,
Lutterworth
The most exciting thing I've been involved with at George is building a close association with Tickled Pink, a breast cancer care charity that we’re really proud to support.
Pia,
Senior Buying Manager,
Lutterworth