PD Technical Deputy Manager

Technical Product Development

• Coordinate the full development cycle from initial brief to confirmation sample.

• Translate 2D designs into commercially viable and profitable 3D solutions.

• Recommend materials, constructions, and components aligned with performance, cost, and sustainability targets.

• Define product requirements, testing standards, and acceptance criteria.

• Review prototypes, specifications, and costs, and initiate revisions when required.

• Drive new product, material, and component ideas in collaboration with relevant teams.

CAD, tooling, and Equipment management

• Approve 3D files and tooling drawings before sample mold opening.

• Manage tooling setup, validation, modification, and acceptance.

• Assess the manufacturability of tooling, processes, and equipment.

• Coordinate with suppliers on tooling, new machinery, and advanced technologies.

• Maintain technical standards and validation records for tooling, equipment, and technical changes

Testing, Quality and Risk Management

• Plan and monitor physical, fit, and wear testing.

• Lead root-cause analysis and preventive actions.

• Assess technical risks during pre-production and mass production.

• Resolve and promptly escalate issues affecting quality, timeline, or cost.

• Ensure products comply with OrthoLite, brand, and customer standards.

• Establish production tolerances and standards for new products.

• Monitor sample quality, pilot runs, SMS orders, and first production lots.

• Control technical changes to materials, construction, processes, and tooling.

• Support the resolution of customer and production-related technical complaints.

Commercialization and Production Readiness

• Lead commercialization readiness reviews before production handover.

• Align Sample Room, Production, QA, Lab, Engineering, and Costing teams on a common plan.

• Oversee trials, pilot runs, and closure actions before mass production.

• Validate BOMs, production instructions, PFCs, and finished/raw material specifications.

• Monitor post-handover performance and resolve early-production issues.

Process, Data and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain SOPs, PFCs, standards, and technical documentation.

• Establish technical data flows and revision-control rules.

• Analyze quality, schedule, productivity, lead-time, and cost data.

• Standardize processes and deploy best practices across teams and sites.

• Lead initiatives to reduce defects, shorten lead time, and improve efficiency.

• Coordinate the development and improvement of effective production control processes.

Project and Stakeholder Management

• Build project plans with clear milestones, resources, risks, and ownership.

• Coordinate Design, CAD, Lab, Engineering, Sample Room, Production, QA, and Costing teams.

• Work directly with T1s, brands, and customers on specific technical requirements.

• Advise on construction, materials, processes, and manufacturability solutions.

• Negotiate and influence stakeholders toward optimal solutions.

• Coordinate with global OrthoLite locations and HQ Sales on transfer projects.

• Manage suppliers and subcontractors for quality, delivery, and technical changes.

• Facilitate technical reviews and document decisions and actions.

• Communicate complex issues with supporting data and clear recommendations.

• Protect the confidentiality of product, customer, and technical information.

Technical Strategy, Resource and Capability Governance

• Develop and deploy the annual technical roadmap, technology priorities, and improvement objectives.

• Govern the technical project portfolio and prioritize resources based on risk, capacity, and production needs.

• Plan technical budgets and CAPEX/OPEX, and manage the lifecycle of tooling and technical equipment.

• Establish competency matrices, professional standards, and development and succession plans for the technical team.

• Manage lessons learned, standardization, and the reuse of technical knowledge across projects, teams, and sites.

Leadership and Team Development

• Ensure overall operational performance meets functional targets.

• Lead and develop supervisors and group leaders to strengthen management capability.

• Oversee performance management processes and ensure fairness and consistency.

• Drive engagement initiatives and maintain stable employee relations.

• Create a positive, respectful, and engaging team environment.

• Make timely operational decisions within delegated authority and escalate risks appropriately.

• Manage R&D projects and propose solutions for new and innovative products.

Reporting

• Issue weekly reports on project progress, risks, issues, and critical actions.

• Report monthly technical, quality, lead-time, productivity, and cost KPIs.

• Maintain project, technical-change, and action-closure registers.

• Prepare presentation materials and documents for visitors and teams from other OrthoLite locations.

Education:

• College degree or above in Engineering, Footwear Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.

Languages:

• Proficient in English. Basic Chinese is an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in footwear manufacturing and product development, preferably in a technical management role.

Technical Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of product development, commercialization, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, tooling, testing, and quality.

Project Management:

• Ability to manage multiple product development projects from development through mass production.

Leadership:

• Experience in leading and developing technical teams.

Problem Solving:

• Strong problem-solving and technical risk assessment skills.