Senior Manager of Production, Footwear

ABOUT KHAITE

KHAITE is a way of looking at the world. 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. Each piece proposes a fresh balance of opposing elements- masculine and feminine, strength and softness, structure and fluidity- while embodying a signature sensuality and ease. 

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 report to the Head of Non-Apparel and will be based in Italy (Florence preferred). 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-end 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 maintain 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 finish 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: This job description does not list all the duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.

OUR VALUES

• Creativity ~ We are always imagining, never imitating.
• Integrity ~ We do the right thing.
• Kindness ~ We value people and their ideas, so we act and speak with compassion.
• Agility ~ We move with intention, flexibility, and speed to stay ahead.
• Tenacity ~ We are insatiable. Our drive is relentless.

KHAITE is an equal opportunity employer. We want to offer an inclusive environment of mutual respect where we welcome diversity and all our employees feel included, developed, and heard. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. KHAITE recruits and recognizes all types of talent and singularities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. 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. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.