Burberry Materials Manager, Shoes
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Jul 2, 2026
About Burberry
Burberry Limited, a quintessentially British luxury fashion house, is renowned for its innovative designs and commitment to quality. As part of the global luxury conglomerate, Burberry offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment where creativity and excellence are at the forefront. The company is dedicated to fostering a culture that encourages diversity and sustainability, making it a leader in the luxury industry.
Burberry seeks Materials Manager for Shoes in Florence, Italy. Oversee raw materials development, vendor relationships, and quality control in luxury footwear production.
Role & Responsibilities
- Partner with Design teams to interpret creative vision and provide technical feasibility assessments during raw materials meetings and development phases
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with vendors, developing detailed knowledge of capabilities and availability to meet collection demands
- Lead research and development of new material concepts and technologies, including samples, colourways, and mill collaborations with rigorous quality control
- Establish and manage critical path timelines for material development in conjunction with Product Development and Design teams, identifying and mitigating risks throughout all stages
- Procure raw materials on schedule, to specified quality standards, and within budgeted cost parameters to achieve target margins
- Ensure functionality, consistency, and standardization of developed products, conducting ongoing risk assessments and implementing corrective actions
- Collaborate with Operations teams to coordinate product testing against relevant standards while negotiating aesthetic adjustments to preserve design integrity
- Support vendor production meetings and oversee technical requirements for prototypes and samples in preparation for full-scale production
- Maintain complete accuracy in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system documentation at all times
Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise in leather processing, including tannery operations, origins of raw materials from development through industrialization, and chemical finishing fundamentals
- Deep knowledge of fabric development and production, including woven fabrics, natural and synthetic fibres, technical materials, coated textiles, print development, and technical embroidery
- Proven experience managing complex vendor relationships and delivering detailed technical briefs in a manufacturing environment
- Strong familiarity with PLM systems and advanced Excel proficiency
- Demonstrated understanding of quality testing parameters and chemical specifications used in material finishing
- Confirmed experience working on-site at production facilities with operational knowledge of factory workflows
Skills
Experience
Expert-level experience in raw materials development, procurement, and vendor management within luxury footwear or apparel production. Proven track record of managing material development projects from conception through industrialization, with demonstrated success translating design concepts into commercially viable specifications. On-site factory experience and established relationships with mills and tanneries required.
Education
Degree in textiles, materials science, fashion design, product development, or related technical discipline; or equivalent professional certifications in materials management and quality assurance.
Workplace
This position is based in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.
Culture
Burberry fosters a creative and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and sustainability. The company is committed to being a force for good, driving industry change and championing community engagement.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Burberry, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Raw Materials Developer», «Footwear Materials Specialist», «Materials Development Manager», «Shoe Materials Technician», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.