Manager Quality Footwear

Shaped by formative encounters, cultural touchstones, and secret desires, this point of view comes to life through womenswear and accessories that find confidence in contrast. Founded in 2016 by creative director Catherine Holstein and based in New York, KHAITE evolves with each season, building upon a foundation of robust yet polished items distinguished by exceptional materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and subtle yet striking details. ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY We are looking for a Senior Manager of Production, Footwear to join the KHAITE team. This role will support the full production lifecycle for KHAITE's footwear category, ensuring timely delivery, uncompromising quality, and operational excellence. Based in Italy, this role will lead vendor relationships, assist with production calendar management, and drive execution from development handover through final delivery for the footwear category. The ideal candidate is highly experienced in luxury footwear production, deeply connected to Italian factories and suppliers, and adept at balancing creative vision with operational precision. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Manage the end-to‐one production process, in partnership with our NY team and Italian development team, from development handover to bulk delivery Manage vendor relationships across Italian factories and suppliers, ensuring KHAITE quality standards and in‐time delivery Negotiate costs, lead times, and capacities with factories and vendors while maintaining quality and brand integrity Lead industrialization fittings with technicians to achieve fit consistency across all typography of footwear in the collection Build fit and grading standards for KHAITE collection Build raw material standards for KHAITE collection Standardize quality control SOP for all raw material and finished goods vendors Supervise quality control processes, including fit, construction, and finishing standards, with weekly factory visits Ensure raw material procurement aligns with production timelines Troubleshoot production issues and propose proactive solutions to mitigate delays or quality risks Maintain accurate reporting on production status, costs, and vendor performance Build, mentor and manage a small production & quality control team based in Italy SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS Interpersonal Skills: Strong negotiation and vendor management skills Highly organized with attention to detail and ability to work in a fast‐paced environment Excellent communication skills and culture fit with New York Team Ability to thrive in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment with shifting priorities Strong problem‐solving and sense of urgency required Strong team player Education/Experience: 10 years of experience in luxury footwear production, with strong expertise in Italian manufacturing required Deep knowledge of luxury footwear construction, materials, and quality standards Established relationships with Italian factories, suppliers, and tanneries Proven track record of managing production calendar and budgets with precision Proficiency in PLM; RLM is a plus Bilingual in Italian and English required Weekly travel to Italian factories required Please note: Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties. KHAITE recruits and recognizes all types of talent and singularities. If E‐Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.