Bottega Veneta Leather R&D Specialist

About Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta is an Italian luxury maison renowned for its artisanal leather craft and understated design language. The house, part of the Kering Group, places a premium on exceptional materials, handcraftsmanship and creative innovation while benefiting from the global scale, talent development and sustainability commitments of its parent company.

Role & Responsibilities

• Research and develop sustainable, innovative leathers with a particular focus on metal‑free processes and ensuring producibility in line with style office inputs.
• Collect, analyse and document qualitative and technical data on leathers, evaluating feasibility, development timelines and cost implications.
• Technically develop and inspect leather samples against technical specifications, identify emerging issues and propose technical solutions in coordination with internal teams and external partners.
• Manage leather colour development and colour control processes throughout development cycles.
• Perform quality control of leather samples both at supplier sites (Italy and abroad) and internally.
• Communicate progress and findings to the team via meetings and by preparing and maintaining monitoring files and reports.
• Liaise with Leather Goods Test and Leather Goods Industrialisation offices to align testing and industrial requirements with material development.
• Work closely on a daily basis with the Style Office, Product Office and Technical Area to ensure coherent product development.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years' professional experience in leather goods manufacturing and/or tannery environments.
• Strong familiarity with luxury/leather goods materials and their technical properties.
• Proven ability to read and apply technical specifications and laboratory/test results to product development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, for reporting and tracking development activities.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Excellent planning skills, strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to problem solving.
• Team‑oriented, flexible and effective communicator.
• Willingness to travel frequently both within Italy and internationally.

Skills

Experience

Minimum 3–5 years in leather goods manufacturing or tannery roles, with hands‑on experience in material development and quality control for premium leather products.

Education

Degree or technical qualification in Materials Science, Leather Technology, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent vocational/technical education.

Workplace

Culture

Bottega Veneta combines Italian artisanal heritage with a modern, innovation‑driven approach to luxury. As part of Kering, the house benefits from a group culture that values talent development, internal mobility and diversity, and encourages collaborative, cross‑disciplinary working to advance sustainable practices.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.