Shoe & Leather Repair Technician / Career Trainee — Full-Time Permanent
Company: ShoeMedic
Location: Oakville, Ontario
Job type: Full-time, permanent
Pay: $17.60–$20 per hour, based on experience and demonstrated ability
Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week, including weekdays and Saturdays. Sundays closed.
About ShoeMedic
ShoeMedic is an established shoe, handbag and leather-repair business located in Oakville, Ontario. We repair everyday and premium footwear, boots, handbags, luggage and designer leather goods.
We are looking for either:
- An experienced shoe-repair technician or cobbler
- A leatherworker, industrial sewer, upholsterer or craftsperson with transferable skills
- A mechanically skilled career trainee who genuinely wants to learn the trade
Professional shoe-repair experience is preferred but is not required for the right candidate.
This Is a Long-Term Career Opportunity
This is a permanent, year-round position. It is not a temporary, summer, seasonal or co-op job.
ShoeMedic will invest significant time in specialized hands-on training. We are therefore looking for someone who wants stable, long-term employment and is genuinely interested in building a career in shoe, handbag and leather repair.
Applicants must be available to work a consistent full-time schedule throughout the year, including weekdays and Saturdays.
Responsibilities
Depending on experience, responsibilities may include:
- Repairing shoes, boots, handbags, luggage and leather goods
- Replacing and repairing soles, heels, heel tips and protective soles
- Operating shoe-repair machinery and industrial sewing machines
- Performing hand-stitching, machine stitching, gluing, sanding and finishing
- Repairing seams, linings, straps, handles, zippers and hardware
- Cleaning, conditioning, polishing and refinishing leather
- Stretching and altering footwear
- Inspecting completed work for quality, durability and appearance
- Learning ShoeMedic’s repair methods and quality standards
- Maintaining a clean and organized workstation
Experience That May Be Relevant
We welcome applicants with experience in:
- Shoe repair or cobbling
- Footwear manufacturing
- Leatherworking
- Handbag or luggage repair
- Industrial sewing
- Upholstery
- Saddlery
- Tailoring or garment alterations
- Automotive or furniture leather repair
- Jewellery, bicycle, appliance or small-equipment repair
- Woodworking, refinishing or other detailed hands-on trades
Professional experience gained outside Canada is fully valued and welcomed.
What We Are Looking For
- Strong manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
- Patience and close attention to detail
- Ability to follow instructions carefully
- Comfort using machinery and hand tools
- Pride in producing clean and durable work
- Reliable attendance and a strong work ethic
- Willingness to practise and continually improve
- Ability to stand and work with your hands for much of the day
- Availability for consistent full-time work
- Genuine interest in stable, long-term employment
What We Offer
- Stable, year-round employment
- Full-time permanent hours
- Paid hands-on training
- Competitive compensation based on experience and demonstrated skill
- Wage reviews as skills and productivity improve
- Opportunity to learn a specialized and increasingly rare trade
- Variety of work involving shoes, boots, handbags and designer leather goods
- Support from experienced repair technicians
- Opportunity to advance into an independent repair-technician position
- Sundays off
How to Apply
Apply through Indeed with your résumé and a brief explanation of why you are interested in building a long-term career in shoe and leather repair.
Please include:
- Any shoe-repair, leatherworking, sewing, mechanical, craft or repair experience
- The machinery and tools you have used
- The types of products you have made or repaired
- Why this trade interests you
- Confirmation that you are seeking permanent, year-round employment
- Confirmation that you are available approximately 40 hours per week, including Saturdays
Photos of previous professional or personal work are strongly encouraged.
Selected candidates may be invited to complete a paid practical skills assessment.
Pay: $17.60-$20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Oakville, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you seeking permanent, year-round, full-time employment rather than temporary, summer, seasonal or co-op work?
- Are you consistently available to work full-time throughout the year, including Saturdays?
- This position requires substantial paid hands-on training. Are you genuinely interested in developing a long-term career in shoe, handbag and leather repair?
- Please explain why you are interested in shoe and leather repair and what type of work you hope to be doing two years from now.
- Please describe any experience you have with shoe repair, leatherworking, industrial sewing, upholstery, tailoring, woodworking, machinery, crafts or other detailed hands-on work.
Work Location: In person
