Senior Footwear Materials Color Developer

Senior Footwear Materials Color Developer (Contract)

Location: Beaverton, OR (On-site/Hybrid)

Duration: 6-month contract (leave coverage)

We are seeking a Senior Footwear Materials Color Developer to support a fast-paced product creation team focused on delivering high-quality, scalable color solutions across footwear materials. This role sits at the intersection of color science, material development, and production execution, ensuring accurate color translation from concept to commercialization.

You will play a critical role in maintaining color consistency, data accuracy, and operational excellence across a wide range of materials, working closely with cross-functional partners and global suppliers.

1. Lead Color Development for Complex Materials

• Develop and approve color for footwear materials including textiles, synthetics, foams, and leathers
• Manage color execution from brief through production readiness
• Ensure accurate color standards and approvals across multiple material types

2. Drive Color Consistency at Scale

• Support high-volume color programs across seasonal palettes
• Partner with suppliers to ensure color accuracy and repeatability
• Manage lab dips, approvals, and color standard libraries

3. Support Color Lab Operations & Data Integrity

• Capture and analyze color measurements using spectrophotometers
• Interpret color data (E, tolerances) and validate against standards
• Maintain organized, accurate tracking in systems (Excel, Smartsheets, PLM tools)
• Utilize light boxes and controlled environments for visual color assessment

You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams including:

• Color Design
• Materials Development
• Product Development
• Materials Integrity
• Global factory and supplier partners

• 5+ years of experience in color development for materials (footwear preferred)
• Proven ability to develop and approve color for production, not just concept/design
• Farnsworth-Munsell 100 (FM100) color acuity test with a superior score
• Hands-on experience with spectrophotometers and color measurement tools
• Strong understanding of color theory, material behavior, and dye/finish impact
• Experience evaluating color using light boxes and controlled lighting conditions
• Ability to interpret color data and manage lab dip approvals
• Strong organizational skills with experience tracking work across multiple materials and timelines

• Experience working with footwear materials (knits, synthetics, foams, leather)
• Background in materials or product development
• Experience collaborating with global vendors/factories
• Familiarity with digital color tools and color management systems
• Experience supporting high-volume product creation environments

• Highly detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy and consistency
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
• Strong communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams and partners
• Process-driven mindset with a passion for operational excellence in color development

• Exposure to end-to-end product creation processes
• Hands-on experience with advanced color systems and tools
• Opportunity to work across materials, suppliers, and global teams
• Deeper expertise in scaling color from concept to production

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