New Balance - Football Product Creation Intern

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today. At New Balance, We Got Now.

Football Product Creation Intern

Job mission:

New Balance is offering a 1 year paid Internship to an undergraduate student, currently in the penultimate year of study, with a passion for Football, Product Creation and Project Management. The role will provide tactical category support and insight across the footwear, apparel, equipment & accessories functions that enable the delivery of world-class football product propositions. Training and support will be given and you will gain a broad knowledge of a global business.

This Placement opportunity will start on Monday 10th June 2024 and will be based in the Head Office (Warrington) full time.

Deadline to apply: Friday 19th January 2024

Major accountabilities:

Go to Market

• Partnering with Design and development through Design Reviews, Tech Pack Creation, Factory Liaison and product teardowns.
• Software-based management of validation & benchmarking systems.

Testing & Validation

• Support the Development & Innovation Team in the testing and validation of all seasonal silo/apparel creation to ensure appropriate measures are taken to minimize risk, demonstrate actions and provide quality assurance.
• Seek opportunities to align Development T&V approach strategies across Apparel, Footwear, E&A functions.
• Management of sample distribution and retrieval across the T&V candidates.
• Support the capture & documentation of T&V findings + subsequent communication.
• Liaison with US-based T&V counterparts.
• Implementation & management of stage gate samples to ensure rotation, availability, and security.

Insight Gathering

• Support the Consumer | Competitor | Customer Insight gathering, interpretation & communication:
• Coordination and facilitation of consumer & fan focus group activity.
• Mining & interpretation of market launches, events & relative impact.
• Price positioning & range research to ensure relevance & impact of the NB assortments.
• Athlete and club asset research to support and inform both acquisition & servicing strategies.

Innovation

• Management of Innovation project ideation sessions.
• Project management of innovation projects through build – measure – learn phases.
• White paper and consumer research to identify insights for future innovation projects.

General Tasks

• Assist with the sample sales.
• Reception cover.

Key requirements for success:

• Studying towards a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, for example, Sports Technology, Innovation Management, Engineering.
• Must be able to provide right to work in the UK.
• Strong passion for football and the football industry with proven interest in the sport.
• Familiar with Adobe suite software (or other creative suites) is preferred.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to cope in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communication skills, including comfortable presenting to an audience.
• Results driven - follows through to conclusion on all projects/commitments.
• Team player.
• Some travel may be required.

Equal opportunities:

New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.

If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.

Flexible Work Schedule:

For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while providing high levels of flexibility to associates. North American office-based associates are expected to come into the office on Wednesdays, with other occasional in-office days for in-person meetings and events as needed. Our offices are fully open and amenities are available across our North American office locations.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates and takes affirmative action to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran.