Senior Footwear Materials Color Developer

Partner with Aquent to join a globally recognized leader in innovative consumer products, renowned for its commitment to excellence and cutting-edge design. This company is at the forefront of its industry, driven by a mission to inspire and empower, and you’ll play a crucial role in bringing their vision to life. Are you a master of color, with an unwavering eye for precision and a passion for bringing visionary product concepts to tangible reality? We are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic professional to step into a critical contract role, ensuring the flawless translation of color from initial concept to commercialized product. This is your opportunity to make a significant impact on the aesthetic integrity and market success of a wide range of materials used in innovative consumer goods. In this role, you will be the linchpin connecting color science, material development, and production execution. Your expertise will directly influence product quality and consistency across global supply chains. You will champion color accuracy, uphold data integrity, and drive operational excellence, collaborating with cross-functional teams and international partners to deliver exceptional results.

Responsibilities

Lead the comprehensive color development process for complex materials, including textiles, synthetics, foams, and leathers; Manage the end-to-end color execution lifecycle, from initial brief through to production readiness; Establish and maintain accurate color standards and ensure approvals across diverse material types; Drive color consistency across high-volume product programs and seasonal palettes; Collaborate closely with global suppliers to ensure color accuracy and repeatability in manufacturing; Oversee lab dips, manage approvals, and maintain robust color standard libraries; Capture and analyze precise color measurements using advanced spectrophotometers; Interpret complex color data (ΔE, tolerances) and rigorously validate against established standards; Maintain organized and accurate tracking of all color development activities within various systems; Utilize light boxes and controlled environments for meticulous visual color assessment.

Requirements

5+ years of dedicated experience in color development for materials, with a preference for experience in consumer product materials; Demonstrated ability to develop and approve color specifically for production, moving beyond conceptual design to tangible manufacturing; A superior score on the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 (FM100) color acuity test, indicating exceptional color perception; Hands-on expertise with spectrophotometers and other color measurement tools; A strong theoretical and practical understanding of color theory, material behavior, and the impact of dyes and finishes; Proven experience evaluating color accurately using light boxes and controlled lighting conditions; Proficiency in interpreting color data and managing the lab dip approval process; Exceptional organizational skills, with a track record of effectively managing and tracking work across multiple materials and demanding timelines.

Nice to have

Direct experience working with consumer product materials such as knits, synthetics, foams, and leather; A background in materials or product development; Experience collaborating effectively with global vendors and factories; Familiarity with digital color tools and advanced color management systems; Experience supporting high-volume product creation environments.

Benefits

Invaluable exposure to end-to-end product creation processes within a leading industry player; Hands-on experience with advanced color systems and cutting-edge tools; The opportunity to work across a broad spectrum of materials, suppliers, and global teams; Deeper expertise in scaling color from initial concept through to mass production; subsidized health, vision, and dental plans; paid sick leave; retirement plans with a match; free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.