Quality Excellence Manager (Footwear & Accessories)

Dr. Martens is a globally recognisable and culturally influential British brand, with 65 years of rich heritage, rooted in craftmanship. As brand custodians, we are lucky to work for a dynamic, thriving, and ethical business, with people from diverse backgrounds, who bring their true selves to work, and where anyone can grow their career.

We are guided by three core values that are at the heart of everything we do: be yourself, act courageously, and show you care. They make us who we are and inspire us to push boundaries, embrace our individuality, and stand up for what's right.

SO, WHAT'S THE STORY

From sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, and delivering our brilliant products to customers, including handling returns, you will work closely with the Quality leadership team and key stakeholders to define and manage the quality system, as well as the creation and control of documentation. This includes addressing quality issues through root cause analysis and data analytics to enable standardization and enhancement of our Quality Standards across the Integrated Supply Chain.

As a member of our Quality and Compliance team, you will support the ongoing development of the Quality strategy and take the lead in developing processes, policies, procedures, and best practices through project management. You will ensure compliance with these standards by developing, communicating, training, and embedding them, ensuring our Quality Standards are always fully compliant with both internal and external requirements.

THE GIG

In addition to having relevant qualifications and significant experience in root cause analysis and process creation within a Quality Supply Chain environment, including working with T1 and key T2 suppliers as well as distribution centres (DCs), you will demonstrate strong leadership skills and be able to quickly build effective relationships and influence key stakeholders both internal and external business. This will ensure engagement and compliance with agreed processes, policies, and standards, driving continuous quality improvement. You will have a passion for data and an analytical mindset, a drive for continuous improvement, and a resilient personality, as you will play a key role in ensuring that the high standards we set for operational excellence are consistently met.

Key areas of responsibility will be:

Process Standardization & Documentation Development

• Lead the creation and maintenance of quality manuals, policies, SOPs, and work instructions tailored to footwear and accessories operations.
• Collaborate with internal departments (e.g., Product Development, Materials, Sourcing, Compliance) and T1 partners to align and standardize processes.
• Ensure documentation reflects best practices and is consistently applied across all functions and partners.

Quality Improvement Project

• Lead cross-functional investigations into quality issues using structured problem-solving tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone, DMAIC) on the quality issue through the returns and claim from the market.
• Manage the corrective and preventive actions and ensure follow-through with measurable results.
• Manage quality improvement initiates projects from initiation to closure, ensuring alignment with business goals and operational excellence.

Quality Learning & Best Practice Sharing

• Analyse quality issues and non-conformances to identify systemic, process gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and implement mechanisms for sharing lessons learned and best practices across internal teams and suppliers.
• Facilitate workshops and forums to promote continuous learning and proactive quality culture.

Quality Auditing & Training

• Plan and conduct internal audits and supplier assessments to ensure adherence to quality standards and documented processes.
• Design and deliver training programs for internal teams and T1 partners to build capability and ensure consistent execution.
• Monitor audit outcomes and training effectiveness, driving corrective actions and continuous improvement.

THE STUFF THAT SETS YOU APART

To be our Quality Excellence Manager, you will have a strong understanding of process creation and delivery, and passion for continuous improvement and an analytical mindset as well as a professional and flexible approach to work including travel to and work from different locations as required. You will also have the following:

• Degree in quality management, engineering, manufacturing, or a relevant field.
• At least 10 years of experience in quality management, manufacturing excellence, product development for footwear and accessories.
• Minimum of 3 years as a Footwear Quality Manager, addressing quality challenges across multiple factories and/or distribution centres.
• Strong understanding of footwear manufacturing, lab testing, as well as materials technology; leather expertise is a plus.
• Demonstrated excellence in process and system audits, including incoming inspection, production processes, and AQL programs.
• Experience working with quality systems, tools, and digital platforms such as SharePoint, Pivot88, BOM, and PLM
• Effective leadership skills with the ability to influence results and demonstrate resilience in a complex and challenging environment. Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Passion for achieving outstanding performance and operational excellence through collaborative teamwork.
• Proven ability to analyse situations, identify solutions, and make sound decisions. Analytical mindset with a strong focus on process and data-driven problem solving.
• Proficient in data analysis, including Microsoft Office and presentation tools.
• Excellent problem-solving methodologies and project management skills; experience with LEAN-SIGMA is a plus.
• Excellent spoken and written in Vietnamese and English.
• Eligibility to work in Vietnam without a visa sponsorship.

At Dr. Martens, we live and breathe our 3 core values they're at the heart of who we are. They never stand-alone but work together as a balancing act of rights and responsibilities to support how we work together at DMs. BE YOURSELF. ACT COURAGEOUSLY. SHOW YOU CARE. Our values also underpin the DM Way, our behavioural framework, which describes the 8 factors that drive success for our people.

Your technical capability will go hand in hand with our DM Way success factors:

• Develop: create an environment that empowers and nurtures future talent by delegating, understanding next generation needs, and ensuring long-term team growth
• Lead: set a clear vision with plans and goals, cultivating a high-performance culture that drives positive change and inspires enthusiasm for DM's future.
• Explore: place the consumer at the heart of strategy, decisions, and communications while analysing market trends and competition relevant to your role.
• Invent: champion progress, innovation, and change, driving collaboration across teams to enhance effectiveness and implement new ideas.
• Connect: promote inclusivity and collaboration, build strong internal and external networks, and streamline processes to align cross-functional efforts and drive growth.
• Influence: communicate difficult messages clearly and assertively, balancing data and emotion to influence, and build a collective movement toward common goals by selling a compelling vision.
• Drive: cultivate a culture of entrepreneurial spirit and high performance, inspiring teams to overcome obstacles, embrace challenges, and continuously improve while delivering results.
• Organise: balance long-term strategic change with short-term business needs by setting clear roles, expectations, and measures for the team.

For those candidates who have applied for this role earlier do not need to apply again. We have your record already.

Are you ready to fill your boots Apply now.

At Dr. Martens, we are committed to creating an environment in which we can all be our best and bring our authentic selves to work. We encourage applications, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, or disability. Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on our brand; helping us to speak authentically to our consumers.

We strive to develop a business where our people can thrive and feel empowered to express themselves. Because we believe everyone should feel supported and included whatever their role in the Dr. Martens community.