What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Product Development position at CONSUELA LLC?
Description
Our mission is to Make Today Ridiculously Awesome! This isn't about selling handbags, it's about manifesting a feeling, an experience, and a community all in honor of the journey, because it's not about the bag....it's where you take it. Our product offering, almost entirely produced in Mexico, focuses on totes, handbags and accessories. We aspire to help people and have a positive impact through our lives and work, and to keep our focus on the good. Our It’s Not About the Bag™ program celebrates women who impact the world in positive ways through their service, strength, kindness, humor, tenacity and love. We choose light. We are a community. We uplift people. We aspire to be a category of one.
The Manager, Product Development is responsible for managing end to end product and materials development from initial concept all the way to handoff to Production while maintaining adherence to the seasonal development calendar.
JOB DUTIES
- Manage new products to the Development Calendar each season
- Responsible for ensuring all samples are ordered, tracked and invoiced and any resubmits that are needed are communicated with the factories
- Directly manage and coach Development Specialist and Sample Coordinator
- Help to determine factory designation by style in collaboration with Production team to ensure capacity by factory is not exceeded while dual sourcing as applicable
- Assist Product Development Director with product costing as needed
- Collaborate/partner with Design Team via regular meetings, handoffs and work to bring their concepts to life
- Insure products are updated in WFX and that factory partners are communicated with on updates
- Cultivate relationships with factories, suppliers and collaborative partners
- Work with Founder/CEO/Creative Director to review and approve proto samples
- Maintain all records and comments on samples, sample requests, approvals, drops and revisions in an organized manner in order to provide information to the full team, including factories
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in design or fashion related field
- 5 years experience in product development and sourcing in the fashion industry - particularly in handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, home goods and/or loungewear
- Sourcing, manufacturing and costing expertise domestically and internationally
- Strong knowledge of the latest trends and strategies in materials, trims and manufacturing
- Possess a proven track record of taking new products from synthesis to launch
- 2 years supervisory experience in the fashion industry
- An understanding of handbag and small leather construction and the capabilities of a wide range of raw materials
- Must be organized and possess the ability to prioritize to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be able to communicate information effectively via spreadsheets/charts
- Excellent communication skills; able to express ideas clearly and influence others
- Familiarity with various raw materials including leather, PVC, trims and hardware
- Strong problem solving skills with the confidence to change lanes quickly when needed
- Command of programs such as MS Office, especially Excel, Google docs, PLM and ERP systems
Consuela, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, military/veterans status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local ordinances.
