Yves Saint Laurent Materials Research and Development Specialist – Footwear
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Compensation
- €55,000/year
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Oct 2, 2026
About Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent stands as one of fashion’s most influential maisons, renowned for redefining modern elegance through audacity, precision, and cultural intelligence. As an employer, the House offers a dynamic environment where heritage and innovation meet, inviting talent to contribute to a legacy shaped by creativity, craftsmanship, and a distinctly Parisian spirit. Employees are encouraged to pursue excellence across design, retail, merchandising, communications, and corporate functions, within a culture that values individuality, rigor, and forward-looking vision. Joining Yves Saint Laurent means participating in the continued evolution of an iconic brand whose influence extends far beyond fashion.
Saint Laurent seeks a Materials Research and Development Specialist for footwear to join its Materials Research and Development team within Product Development. The role manages material research, supplier and manufacturer coordination, collaboration with creative and product teams, progress reporting and materials documentation. Gross salary starts at €55,000, with employee level 6 under the footwear industry collective agreement.
Role & Responsibilities
- Manage materials research and development activities.
- Maintain regular contact with suppliers on materials research, development and progress, and with footwear manufacturers during shoe production.
- Collaborate with the Creative Director on materials research and development.
- Work with the Product Development team to ensure materials are used correctly and the finished product is produced as intended.
- Coordinate with internal departments, particularly Raw Material Industrialization and Purchasing, to anticipate potential issues with selected materials.
- Create and regularly share reports on activity progress.
- Support development of the information system for the materials research and development area.
- Ensure materials documentation is managed correctly.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of material processing, including leather and textiles.
- Strong knowledge of footwear production processes.
- Availability for frequent travel within Italy and internationally.
Skills
Experience
At least 5 years of experience in similar roles preferred.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Vigonza, Veneto, Italy, with easy access to Venice.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position is EUR 55,000 per annum.
Benefits
Annual variable bonus, welfare benefits, company canteen, and smart working under current company policies; benefits also include those provided by the applicable collective agreement and legislation.
Culture
Yves Saint Laurent fosters a bold, creative, and fast-paced workplace where teams are encouraged to challenge convention while upholding the Maison’s legacy of elegance and modernity. As an employer, it values artistic vision, collaboration, and excellence, offering an environment where talent can contribute to a globally influential luxury brand with a distinctive Parisian spirit.
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 Yves Saint Laurent, 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 «Materials Development Specialist», «Footwear Materials Specialist», «Materials Research Specialist», «Product Materials Developer», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.