Product Development Manager bei Elite Sportswear LP

Description

Responsibilities:

The Product Development Manager has the overall responsibility for the planning and execution of offshore product development. As part of the overall duties, there are 4 major areas of responsibility:

• Develop product with design that meets the needs of the consumer, performance features, aesthetic requirements, corporate margin, delivery goals, and quality goods.
• Source fabric and trims with a focus on innovation.
• Manage initial and final costing.
• Place and track all development samples.

Develop product with design that meets the needs of the consumer, performance features, aesthetic requirements, corporate margin, delivery goals, and quality goods:

• Work closely with the Design and PLM teams to develop products that execute the design vision and meet the functional and quality needs of the consumer.
• Attending the design concept meeting to understand seasonal inspiration and tone, then creating a seasonal sourcing strategy to execute the design vision.
• Research new suppliers to develop strategic sourcing plan based on initiatives of cost reduction, speed to market, regional risk mitigation, and new product concepts.
• Required to inspire change of existing solutions and build new processes through critical thinking.
• Accountable for program timeline, resource requirements, risk management, and budget.
• Responsible for any development needs for third party/big box retailers.
• Responsible for the updates and accuracy of the Elite Vendor Manual.

Source fabric and trims with a focus on innovation:

• Source and/or develop all fabric and trim needs for design team.
• Validate and test all fabric before adopting into the seasonal assortment.
• Request and track all third-party fabric performance testing – this includes ensuring all US legal requirements are followed
• Work across divisions to bring increased utilization and consistency in trim and fabric sourcing.
• Network utilizing internal and external resources for development of fabric and trim innovation.
• Determine and communicate any potential fabric, trim, or production issues.
• Analyze selling as well as consumer behavior and competitor offerings to stay ahead of trends.

Manage initial and final costing:

• Request initial costing of each garment developed.
• Review initial costs for inconsistencies and against targets to meet margin goals.
• Work with management to identify potential issues that will risk meeting margin objectives.
• Costing exercises may be necessary to make allocation decision based on best cost and lead time.
• Negotiate final cost approval based on cost breakdown, yardage quantities, and total unit volume.
• Responsible to achieve costing that meets all corporate margin goals.

Place and track all development samples:

• Responsible for requesting and tracking all fabric vetting samples.
• Manage needs for wear tests due to new fabric performance and/or new fabric.
• Manage and track redevelopment of fabric or trim due to new supplier and/or quality issue.
• Request and track all seasonal line review samples as needed.
• Request and track all seasonal salesman sample and photo samples as needed.
• Request and track all line review samples to maintain corporate calendar milestones.
• Collaborate with tech design on any new fit samples needed due to new fabric sourcing.
• Communicate sample status to PLM and design teams.

Skills Required to Perform Successfully:

• The Product Development Manager must be able to collaborate well with others.
• The Product Development Manager requires the ability to develop new products with conceptual thinking to avoid potential issues.
• The Product Development Manager should be thorough, complete, and accurate in all communicated information.
• The Product Development Manager must have a willingness to take on a variety of tasks.
• The Product Development Manager must have the ability to learn and grow professionally.

Education:

• A four-year college degree is required. This must be in apparel production, textiles, business, or a closely related subject.
• Proficiency with personal computers in a Microsoft Windows? environment for Excel? and Word? is required.