Utility Director – Footwear

About the role

The Utility Director – Footwear will lead the seamless hand‑off of product development tech packs from headquarters to KEEN’s utility factory partners. This role ensures that footwear models are proven, tested, cost‑effective, sustainable and ready for manufacturing while meeting design intent and performance targets.

Key responsibilities

• Receive and execute tech‑pack transfers, overseeing the product creation process from initial design through commercialization and production.
• Collaborate with factories to standardize technical, development and production methods, sharing sustainability and cultural standards.
• Maintain daily communication with factory sample rooms, production lines, sourcing, costing, materials, planning, testing and quality teams.
• Provide expert recommendations on construction techniques, tooling solutions and material selections to meet performance and cost goals.
• Support the Material Innovation Team by validating new materials and fabrication methods before production.
• Coordinate product packaging with the Creative Design Team and external suppliers for efficient, cost‑effective delivery.
• Manage marketing and photo‑shoot sample requests within development calendar timelines.
• Research and qualify new suppliers, acquire requested materials and components, and oversee seasonal tooling investments, mold shop selection and 3D file approvals.
• Liaise with footwear technical engineering on pattern development, mold design, compound composition, costing and manufacturability analysis.