Lead Exploration Innovator, Footwear

Location: Hybrid role based in Annecy, France; approximately 10–15% travel, primarily to Asia, with occasional travel within Europe.

Company

hirify.global is a mountain sports brand within Amer Sports, developing footwear, apparel and equipment with a focus on innovation, performance and sustainability.

What you will do

• Lead strategic R&D innovation projects from early-stage exploration through concept development over approximately two to five years.
• Define project scope, objectives, timelines, budgets, resources, deliverables and decision points.
• Generate, evaluate and refine innovative footwear ideas, technologies, features and functionalities in multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Assess opportunities for brand relevance, consumer value, technical feasibility, commercial potential and sustainability, then recommend priorities.
• Guide concepts through experimentation, functional prototypes and product samples using knowledge of footwear construction, materials, tooling, assembly and manufacturing.
• Build partnerships with universities, laboratories, start-ups, agencies, technology providers and manufacturing partners, while maintaining continuity into product development.

Requirements

• 10+ years of professional experience in footwear development, product innovation or a closely related area within the sports industry, including experience leading complex projects from exploration through prototyping, validation or market introduction.
• Deep knowledge of footwear construction, materials, tooling, assembly, sampling and industrial development processes.
• Strong understanding of Asian footwear development and manufacturing environments, including factory capabilities and sample room operations.
• Ability to combine creative thinking, technical depth and commercial or consumer relevance; facilitate ideation and translate early-stage ideas into structured, actionable concepts.
• Strong project leadership skills covering priorities, timelines, budgets, resources, stakeholders and deliverables.
• Ability to influence and align multidisciplinary teams around shared objectives.
• Hands-on willingness to work directly on prototypes, samples and practical problem-solving.
• Strong communication, presentation, active listening and stakeholder engagement skills, plus the ability to coach others and contribute within a small collaborative team.
• Fluent English required.

Nice to have

• Broader product knowledge across apparel, bags or other soft goods.
• Experience with rapid prototyping, 3D modelling or digital concept development tools.
• Professional experience living or working in Asia.
• Hands-on model-making, prototyping or workshop experience.
• Engineering or design background.
• Knowledge of outdoor sports and their consumers.
• French language skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Permanent contract within a focused, multidisciplinary innovation team.
• Work closely with design, product development, engineering, research, consumer insight and technical experts.
• Collaborative environment centered on innovation, inclusion, responsible outdoor practices and sustainability.
• Regular international travel, primarily to Asian development and manufacturing partners.