Business Development Manager – Footwear Thread, Emea

Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data and the environment.

Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, we provide value-adding products including apparel, footwear and speciality threads.

With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, we have operations across 50 countries with a workforce of over 17,000, serving our customers worldwide.

Headquartered in the UK, Coats* connects talent, textiles, and technology to make a better and more sustainable world.

For more info, visit our website:

Role Purpose:

The Business Development Manager – Footwear Thread, EMEA is responsible for driving commercial growth, expanding market share, and developing strategic customer relationships across the footwear industry. This role focuses on promoting the company’s technical sewing thread solutions to footwear manufacturers, brands, and distributors throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The ideal candidate combines strong commercial acumen with a technical understanding of footwear construction, materials, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Market & Business Development

• Identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities across the EMEA footwear industry
• Conduct market mapping—segmenting brands, Tier 1, manufacturers, distributors, and estimating the trend usage.
• Lead penetration strategies for key categories (e.G., athletic shoes, outdoor footwear, safety boots, lifestyle, accessories, etc.).
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline aligned with revenue growth targets.

Customer Engagement & Account Management

• Serve as the primary commercial contact for footwear brands, manufacturers and distributors.
• Develop account strategies, pricing proposals, and volume forecasts.
• Support technical presentations and product demonstrations to customers.
• Collaborate with customer designers, product managers, and technical teams to specify thread types and performance requirements early in the product development cycle.

Technical & Product Expertise

• Understand thread manufacturing processes and their application in footwear stitching.
• Advise customers on thread selection for durability, seam strength, aesthetics, and cost optimisation.
• Provide feedback to innovation and product teams regarding customer needs and market trends.

Regional Strategy & Collaboration

• Develop and execute the EMEA Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy for the footwear segment.
• Work closely with supply chain teams to ensure product availability and efficient order fulfilment.
• Coordinate with product & marketing to align on brand strategies.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Monitor sales metrics, pricing performance, and competitive dynamics.
• Prepare monthly business reviews, forecasts, and strategic account plans.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline visibility.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Material Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5–10 years of experience in business development or technical sales in the footwear, textiles, or materials industries.
• Strong understanding of footwear construction (uppers, outsoles, technical stitching, seam engineering).
• Proven track record of delivering sales growth across multi-country territories.
• Experience working with global footwear brands and manufacturing partners is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English required;
  additional EMEA languages (German, Italian) are a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 60% across the region.

At Coats Group, we are committed to innovation, excellence, and fostering a diverse and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. If you are passionate about making an impact in the textile industry and eager to join a global leader with a rich heritage and a forward-thinking approach, we invite you to take the next step in your career with us.

Apply now to be part of our dynamic team and help shape the future of textiles.