Makes and/or repairs boots or shoes.

Cuts and prepares canvas, leather to design specifications, patterns and drawings; joins parts of leather articles using rivets, hand sewing, sewing machines, tools and adhesive; restores and repairs leather articles; designs patterns and prototypes of boots and shoes; makes and grades patterns using manual and computerised methods; clicks synthetics, corrected grains, leather linings and leather outers by hand and machine; alters and repairs footwear.

• Works indoors in workrooms or workshops.
• The work area will usually be adequately heated and ventilated.
• Repairs involving the use of leather stains or dyes are likely to be dirty and smelly.

• Physical demand is likely to be in the light to medium range.
• Standing is frequently required at work benches for long periods of the day. Sitting is frequently required on stools for periods at heavy duty sewing machines or when hand stitching the components of the shoe as required. Walking is frequently required about the work area to facilitate the use of various tables, tools and materials, and customer service.
• Stretching out or across and twisting of the body or neck are not generally required.
• Squatting, crouching or kneeling is not required unless inspecting a shoe on a customer’s foot. Bending is not a significant feature of the job.
• Contact with strong glues or adhesives and dyes or stains used on leather will be frequent.
• Lifting of a light physical demand is frequently required for shoes and other light materials.
• Repetitive movements of the hands and arms are frequently required for cutting, sewing, hole-punching, and tacking.
• Driving is not generally required.
• There is use of a range of hand and electric tools including measuring equipment, cutting instruments or machines, sewing equipment and a variety of other hand tools such as rivet machines, punches and lasts.
• Mental skills necessary include problem-solving, organisational and customer service skills.

A New Zealand Register Level 4 qualification or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3). In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.