Job Title: Quality Assurance Specialist – Footwear & Accessories Job Summary The Quality Assurance Specialist (Footwear) oversees the complete end-to-end quality management cycle at partner manufacturing facilities. This role acts as the primary representative for brand quality standards, driving process compliance from raw material testing through component cutting, assembly, finishing, and final audits. Roles and Responsibilities • Accomplish Quality process cycle of a footwear factory by controlling material and component samples, following up upper and sole production in-house status, managing in-house physical/chemical testing, conducting Pre-Production (PP) Meetings, granting cutting and lasting permissions, inspecting, reporting, and maintaining meticulous records. • Provide training and education to factory quality and production personnel, maintaining strictly required quality standards throughout all footwear manufacturing stages according to Quality SOPs and brand specifications. • Checking material cutting, upper stitching/closing, lasting, sole bonding, and finishing in-process quality control, reporting findings directly to management. • Understand and follow the quality SOP at each step of the footwear manufacturing process, implementing every buyer work manual and applying quality standards across the assigned factory floor. • Conduct In-line Audits and in-process audits across clicking/cutting, stitching, lasting, bottoming, finishing, and packing departments. • Monitor the whole quality assurance and quality control process of the assigned footwear factory. • Conducting Final inspection (AQL) and confirming the final structural integrity, fit, aesthetics, and overall quality of the finished footwear. • Train up and lead factory-nominated QA teams directly to build technical competency and maintain alignment with brand expectations. • Ultimate responsible person for the factory quality controlling process from the buyer end. • Generate comprehensive weekly and monthly quality performance reports. • Drive key quality metrics: reducing DHU% (Defects Per Hundred Units), improving first-time audit pass rates, reducing raw material/component Inward Rejection, and minimizing post-purchase customer returns. Qualifications & Experience • B.Tech/Diploma (Footwear Technology or Leather Technology preferred) with 6+ years of hands-on experience in Footwear Manufacturing & QA/QC functions. • Deep technical knowledge of footwear construction techniques (e.g., cemented, vulcanized, stitched), leather/synthetic grading, lasting processes, and sole attachment testing. • Strong communication and project management skills to coordinate effectively between factory management and brand leadership. • Strong Analytical Skills and Process Orientation—proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) is a must. • Previous experience in retail & e-commerce supply chains is an added advantage.