Senior Manager of Production, Footwear

Senior Manager of Production, Footwear – KHAITE

KHAITE is a luxury fashion brand based in New York, known for its womenswear and accessories that blend masculine and feminine elements with signature sensuality and ease.

Founded in 2016 by creative director Catherine Holstein, the brand focuses on exceptional materials, craftsmanship, and striking details.

About The Opportunity

The Senior Manager of Production, Footwear will report to the Head of Non-Apparel and be based in Italy (Florence preferred). The role supports the full production lifecycle for KHAITE’s footwear, ensuring timely delivery, uncompromising quality, and operational excellence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end production process in partnership with the 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 footwear types in the collection
• Build fit and grading standards, raw material standards, and quality‑control SOPs for KHAITE collection
• 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: strong negotiation and vendor‑management skills
• Highly organized with attention to detail and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Excellent communication skills and cultural fit with the New York team
• Strong problem‑solving abilities and sense of urgency
• Strong team player with leadership mindset

Education & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in luxury footwear production with strong expertise in Italian manufacturing
• Deep knowledge of luxury footwear construction, materials, and quality standards
• Established relationships with Italian factories, suppliers, and tanneries
• Proven track record of managing production calendars and budgets with precision
• Proficiency in PLM; RLM is a plus
• Bilingual in Italian and English required
• Weekly travel to Italian factories required

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, acting and speaking with compassion.
• Agility – We move with intention, flexibility, and speed to stay ahead.
• Tenacity – We are insatiable. Our drive is relentless.

Equal Opportunity & Accommodations

KHAITE is an equal‑opportunity employer. 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.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. 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 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 the Department of Homeland Security or Social Security Administration so you can resolve the issue before the employer can take any action.

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