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Leather Development Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Randa Luggage LLC

$68K - $78K/yr

Designer-Belts & Small Leather Goods Full-Time Associate Rosemont, IL, US 30+ days ago Requisition ... Lead in material, construction, and hardware development and innovation. * Manage brand ...

Leatherman Tools

Growth Marketing Manager

Portland, OR · On-site

At Leatherman, we build tools that help people take on the expected-and the unexpected. For more ... Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans * Foster a culture of ...

American Leather

Marketing Director

Dallas, TX · On-site

Marketing STATUS : Exempt SUMMARY American Leather is seeking a Marketing Director who is ... Develop and manage promotional calendars, pop-up events, sales and retail training, branded retail ...

Leatherman

AI Transformation Manager

Portland, OR · Hybrid

$120K - $123K/yr

AI Transformation Manager | Hybrid Help Shape How Work Gets Done at Leatherman Leatherman is ... This is not a deeply technical AI development role. It is a change leadership and workflow ...

American Leather

Marketing STATUS : Exempt SUMMARY American Leather is seeking a Marketing Director who is ... Develop and manage promotional calendars, pop-up events, sales and retail training, branded retail ...

Leatherman Tools

AI Transformation Manager

Portland, OR · On-site

$120K - $123K/yr

AI Transformation Manager | Hybrid Help Shape How Work Gets Done at Leatherman Leatherman is ... This is not a deeply technical AI development role. It is a change leadership and workflow ...

American Leather

$70K - $91K/yr

... Leather. This role serves as the Company's subject matter expert for manufacturing costing ... development, maintenance, and approval of material, labor, and overhead standards. * Lead the ...

American Leather

Cost Accounting Manager

Dallas, TX · On-site

$94K - $122K/yr

... Leather. This role serves as the Company's subject matter expert for manufacturing costing ... development, maintenance, and approval of material, labor, and overhead standards. * Lead the ...

Leatherman

Manufacturing Engineer, Projects

Portland, OR · On-site

$77K - $99K/yr

Why Leatherman? For more than 40 years, Leatherman has built premium multipurpose tools trusted by ... Lead new and re-engineered capital equipment projects from requirements development and quotation ...

Leatherman

AI Governance Lead

Portland, OR · On-site

... development. What Success Looks Like * Leatherman teams confidently adopt AI within clear governance standards. * AI solutions are appropriately classified, monitored, and managed throughout their ...

American Leather Operations LLC

Supervisor

Dallas, TX · On-site

$17.25 - $23.50/hr

Each valued operations team member is key to upholding American Leather's commitment to quality ... Development * Efficiently manage manpower and equipment (capacity) according to production ...

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Leather Development Manager information

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$11K

$71.5K

$106.5K

How much do leather development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for leather development manager in the United States is $71,527.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,500.00 and $93,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a leather development manager?

Leather Development Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the research, sourcing, and development of leather materials used in products such as footwear, apparel, automotive interiors, and accessories. They collaborate with tanneries, suppliers, designers, and production teams to ensure that leather meets quality, sustainability, and performance standards. Their role often includes evaluating new leather technologies, managing material costing, and ensuring compliance with environmental and ethical regulations. Leather Development Managers play a key part in bringing innovative and high-quality leather products to market.

What does a leather development manager do during a typical project cycle, and how do they collaborate with other departments?

As a Leather Development Manager, you will typically oversee projects from initial concept through to production, working closely with design, procurement, and manufacturing teams. You'll be responsible for sourcing and evaluating new materials, ensuring quality standards, and developing innovative leather products to meet client or brand specifications. Collaboration is key—you'll regularly liaise with designers to interpret creative ideas, coordinate with suppliers on technical feasibility, and work with production to resolve any challenges. This role offers opportunities to build cross-functional skills and gain visibility into multiple aspects of product development, making it a strong stepping stone for advancement within the materials or product management fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a leather development manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Leather Development Manager, you need expertise in material science, leather processing techniques, and a background in textile or chemical engineering, often supported by relevant degrees or industry experience. Familiarity with quality testing equipment, leather finishing machinery, and standards such as ISO or REACH certifications is typically required. Strong project management, negotiation, and cross-functional communication skills help you coordinate with suppliers, designers, and production teams. These skills ensure high-quality leather products, efficient development cycles, and compliance with industry standards.

What is the difference between Leather Development Manager vs Leather Technologist?

AspectLeather Development ManagerLeather Technologist
CredentialsDegree in Leather Technology, Materials Science, or related field; industry certificationsSimilar educational background; certifications may vary
Work EnvironmentOversees product development, manages teams, collaborates with suppliersFocuses on testing, quality control, and technical analysis
Industry UsageUsed in leather manufacturing companies, brands, and suppliersCommonly employed in labs, quality assurance, and R&D departments

The Leather Development Manager typically leads product innovation and manages development teams, while the Leather Technologist specializes in testing, quality control, and technical analysis. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, but their focus areas and responsibilities differ within the leather industry.

What are popular job titles related to Leather Development Manager jobs?

For Leather Development Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Leather Development Manager job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,527 per year, or $34.4 per hour.

Designer-Belts & Small Leather Goods

California, MO • On-site

Haggar Clothing Co.
Retail • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about Haggar Clothing Co.external

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Collaborate with sales, merchandising, and licensed brand partners to create collections of belts and small leather goods.

  • Conduct trend and market research, design products, and lead initiatives for the brand's collections.

  • Manage the development process from research to technical development, including preparing tech packs and communicating with factories.

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Designer‑Belts & Small Leather Goods

Location : Rosemont, IL

Schedule : Hybrid (3 days in-office / 2 days remote)

Portfolio is required. Please submit as part of your application process.

Position Summary

Join a creative team of designers with a passion for the details, designing belts and small leather goods. Our Accessory Designer collaborates with sales and merchandising, as well as licensed brand partners, to create innovative and trend‑right collections of belts and wallets. Their main duties include trend and market research, designing aesthetically pleasing and functional products, and leading major initiatives for their brand AOR, under the purview of the design director.

Essential Job Functions
  • Maintains an awareness of current design trends, influences, and stays up to date on competitor research.
  • Ensure on-time delivery of fully realized collections that meet the brand's seasonal direction as well as company initiatives/market needs.
  • Lead in material, construction, and hardware development and innovation.
  • Manage brand relationships with licensor partners.
  • Collaborates with licensors, merchandising, and the design team by communicating, presenting, and explaining ideas internally.
  • Guides the development process from research to technical development to market presentation.
  • Designs and creates trend boards and collateral materials for both internal, licensors, and customer presentations.
  • Creates detailed technical drawings and specs for factory partners.
  • Conducts follow‑up of product design process to include preparation of tech packs, sample requests, Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) processes, communications with overseas factories, etc.
  • Mentor and train designer(s) in technical skills and knowledge of the category.
  • Achieves set goals with attention to detail, tracking progress & anticipating potential issues, and manages design calendar deadlines.
  • Performs miscellaneous job‑related duties as assigned.
  • Perform other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the activities enumerated above.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Degree in Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or equivalent degree/experience.
  • 3‑5 years of design experience in a fashion design or industrial design field.
  • Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
  • Well‑versed in the use of various other software, such as Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Works well in a team setting, co‑working on projects.
  • Clear and strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally (25%‑30%), previous experience traveling overseas is a plus.
  • Working knowledge web‑based Product Lifecycle systems (PLM systems) is a plus.
  • 3‑D Software/printing experience a plus.
  • Knowledge of raw materials, sourcing, and designing within target costs.
  • Must be able to receive, lift, open, and unpack boxes containing product samples.
What we Offer
  • Three weeks of paid time off within the first year of employment.
  • Company provided life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and paid parental leave.
  • Health, vision, and dental insurance options with low employee contributions.
  • Optional supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and accident & critical illness insurance offered at a group discount rate.
  • 401(k).
  • Unlimited access to our award‑winning online fitness, and wellness program.
  • A great place to work, fast‑paced, with terrific career growth.

“The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Randa management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.”

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