footwear development specialist

Company Description

Daniella Lehavi is a designer accessories brand specializing in leather bags, shoes, and high-quality accessories, all designed and handmade in Israel. Founded in 1990 with an initial collection of handbags, the brand has expanded to include a wide variety of bags, purses, wallets, belts, and a recognized line of shoes. With a team of over 60 professionals across design, manufacturing, sales, and marketing, Daniella Lehavi’s products are sold in over 150 boutiques in the USA and Canada, and in the brand’s 8 retail locations around Israel.

We are looking for a Footwear Development Specialist with strong technical expertise to join our design and development team.

This role works closely with the Head of design and production and is responsible for precise, hands on development of shoe models, from initial direction through sampling and production readiness.

• Develop and sample footwear styles based on existing design direction, references and materials

• Translate design input into accurate and production ready shoe structures

• Build full technical specifications for each style

• Manage the full sampling process, including corrections, fittings and approvals

• Communicate directly with suppliers throughout development and sampling stages

• Allocate styles to suppliers according to production capabilities

• Support measurement sessions and technical adjustments once samples arrive

• Work closely with the production manager when issues arise during development or production

• Ensure high standards of fit, comfort, material accuracy and cost control

• Assist with additional leather goods development when needed

• Maintain a high level of precision, consistency and follow up throughout the process

• Proven experience in footwear development and sampling

• Strong technical understanding of shoe construction

• Deep knowledge of soles, insoles, leathers and elastic materials

• Ability to create clear and detailed technical specifications

• Highly accurate, detail oriented and process driven working style

• Comfortable communicating with suppliers and following up consistently

• Experience working with international suppliers

• Familiarity with production in China or Turkey

• Experience with leather goods development

• Basic English for reading and simple written communication