Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
Due to expansion New Balance are looking for a Fit and Wear Test Specialist to join our Product Development team in the UK. Supporting Global Football, Cricket, and Lifestyle teams, you will manage Fit and Wear testing of product concepts. The primary purpose of this role is to validate products through real world testing, gathering feedback, experience, and advice the relevant teams.
We are looking for someone who’s passionate about our products. You must have a keen eye for detail and be self motivated with the ability to effectively manage your own workload. We offer hybrid working and a flexibility to working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance. Regular travel across Europe and biannual travel to the US will be required.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Work with our cross-functional product creation teams to test new technical products and technologies that athletes love
- Develops, leads, and executes comprehensive product testing strategies during the prototyping stages, ensuring validation and continuous improvement while aligning with New Balance Global Fit and Wear processes and procedures
- Able to correlate shoe technology to performance
- Work closely with the athletes and product teams to understand performance/user needs
- Expand and manage the product tester network, leveraging industry connections and innovative recruitment methods to ensure diverse and high-quality feedback
- Develop and implement detailed testing timelines and protocols, ensuring timely achievement of milestones and providing strategic insights on technology feasibility and applicability to cross-functional teams
- Provide detailed feedback for products which include fit, durability, or performance impact to the appropriate teams
- Prioritise testing based on product tiers, production timelines, seasonal calendars, and Football and Cricket playing seasons, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
- Ensure data protection rules are followed during all steps of testing
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
- Educated to degree level, ideally within Engineering. Biomechanics or similar would be preferred
- Previous experience within the footwear industry is required
- Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, presentation, and negotiation abilities
- Strong interpersonal skills, confident working with cross- functional teams both internally and externally
- Able to effectively balance workload, understanding when to prioritise tasks successfully
- Confident with challenging the norm and creating new solutions and best practices
- Motivated with proactive approach and desire to succeed
- Passionate about footwear
- Team Player
BENEFITS:
- Discretionary Bonus Opportunity
- Private Medical Insurance
- Dental Scheme
- Pension Scheme
- Flexible Working Hours (07:00 – 10:00 start, 15:00 -18:00 finish)
- Hybrid working (3 days on-site)
- 25 days Annual Leave per year
- Life Insurance
- On Site Gym
- Employee Discount
- Opportunity to work abroad for four weeks per year
- Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)
Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.
If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.
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What We Do
In 1906, New Balance began as a humble one-man operation founded on the belief that “we were born to move,” and has since grown into an international corporation, selling footwear and apparel in over 120 countries and employing over 8,000 associates worldwide. Our mission has always been to support the performance of athletes, and with an unparalleled focus on quality and craftsmanship, we’ve come to set the standard for comfort and fit in an industry all too often driven by hype.
We’re incredibly proud of our history and how far we’ve come, but companies don’t thrive for over a century by being content.
Whether it’s setting a new style trend, retooling our manufacturing process, or building a new state-of-the-art headquarters, we pursue innovation with a spirit of fearless independence. As the only privately held major footwear company in the world, we’re free to do things our way, pushing limits and testing boundaries as we continually reimagine what could be. After all, the status quo isn’t static.
But doing things our way wouldn’t mean much if we weren’t also doing them the right way. We invest in our associates as they invest in us, and as we move forward, we make a point of giving back, supporting communities around us through ambitious philanthropic efforts and involvement programs. We are a company that cares, and our culture is one of integrity and teamwork where together we become greater than the sum of our parts.
