Chanel Shoes Industrialisation and Transformation Specialist

Chanel is an independent French maison renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods and footwear. The brand combines artisanal savoir-faire with industrial excellence across a global manufacturing and supplier network. As an employer, Chanel emphasises meticulous quality, creative innovation and long-term relationships with skilled artisans and specialist industrial partners.

1. Lead industrialisation of new footwear models from prototype to production readiness, defining manufacturing processes, assembly sequences and tooling requirements.
2. Coordinate cross-functional teams — design, product development, sourcing, quality and production — to ensure timely transfers and compliance with technical specifications.
3. Manage pilot runs and pre-production validation, troubleshooting production issues and implementing corrective actions to meet fit, function and finish criteria.
4. Drive transformation initiatives to improve manufacturability, reduce lead times and optimise cost while preserving luxury quality standards.
5. Interface with external suppliers and internal workshops to qualify processes, negotiate technical constraints and ensure capability transfers.
6. Prepare and maintain technical dossiers, work instructions, process flow charts and industrialisation documentation for serial production.
7. Monitor industrial KPIs (time-to-market, first-pass yield, scrap rates) and lead continuous improvement projects using structured problem-solving methods.
8. Provide training and technical support to production teams and suppliers during ramp-up and change implementation phases.

1. Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Shoe Technology or equivalent technical qualification.
2. Proven background in footwear industrialisation or manufacturing, ideally within the luxury or premium footwear sector.
3. Strong knowledge of footwear construction, lasts, components, adhesives, and assembly techniques.
4. Demonstrated project management capability, with experience managing multi-stakeholder industrial transfers.
5. Ability to read and produce technical dossiers, process maps and production specifications.
6. Familiarity with supplier qualification processes and production ramp-up methodologies.
7. Fluent professional communication and interpersonal skills for supplier and cross-functional collaboration.

1. Footwear industrialisation
2. Process engineering
3. Project management
4. Change management
5. Supplier coordination and qualification
6. Prototype validation and pilot-run management
7. Quality assurance for footwear
8. Continuous improvement / Lean manufacturing
9. Technical dossier and work instruction preparation
10. Cross-functional stakeholder management

Approximately 3–5 years of hands-on experience in footwear industrialisation or production engineering, preferably within a luxury or premium manufacturing environment and with direct experience of supplier transfers and production ramp-ups.

Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Shoe Technology or comparable technical qualification.

Chanel fosters a culture of craft-led excellence and discretion, where technical precision and aesthetic quality are equally prized. Teams operate collaboratively across design and production, valuing long-term supplier partnerships and continuous improvement within a heritage-driven luxury environment.