Product Development Manager (NYC)

Our Customer is an American worldwise clothing and accessories retailer, founded in 1969. Over the last 50 years, the company has grown from a single store to a global fashion business with seven brands. Their clothes are availabile in 90 countries worldwide through over 3,100 company-operated stores, almost 400 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites and is still growing.

We are seeking a Product Development Manager on a contract basis to support their business needs. This role is on-site in NYC.

The Manager of Product Development enables the product line creation by partnering cross-functionally to communicate and execute to Design aesthetic, merchandise strategies, and financial targets. They work closely with local teams in New York as well as Sourcing and Product Development partners in Asia to deliver on product design and brand aesthetic while effectively managing average unit cost.

Responsibilities:

• Execute category product development strategies that align with production strategies and division goals.
• Understand product development implications on merchandising and design-driven product decisions based on category or vendor strategies and nuances
• Leverage technical knowledge and leadership support to troubleshoot and resolve issues that are unique in nature and may require a novel approach.
• Leads an Associate Manager or operates as an Individual Contributor to communicate and execute a product development strategy that maintains brand aesthetic and product quality, while maximizing cost efficiencies
• Drive communication between brand teams and Asia-based product teams to ensure strategic business alignment and optimal responsiveness.
• Understand divisional and cross-functional goals and work with the team to execute supporting strategies.
• Work with leadership to communicate upfront brand costing and strategic goals to Category Sourcing in Asia.
• Understand and work with cross-functional teams to ensure financial targets are met by delivering costing guidance
• Manage development metrics set for the global brand.
• Drive responsive strategies by working cross-functionally to identify fabrics for rapid response and test and respond.
• Drive fabric strategies by developing products to meet fabric expectations and providing recommendations on fabrics to platform, position, and leverage, including exploring VOS qualities.
• Accountable for driving career development of direct reports and providing input on performance/talent assessments for dotted line relationships, if applicable

Qualifications:

• Global Product Development experience in driving global product development and understanding design. merchandising, and vendor/category management
• Proactively solves problems and effectively manages multiple challenges.
• Operate in a highly matrixed global organization, forming part of the cross-functional product team (Design, Merchandising, Tech Design, Quality Assurance, Sustainability, Fabric Research and Development, and Global Sourcing).
• Manage and collaborate as well as execute, with strong attention to detail and business acumen, ensuring product flows through the pipeline and meets key milestones to meet product-to-market (P2M) demands.
• Experience executing on multi-year operational goals, incorporating knowledge of production trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, production cycle timeline, fabric and garment construction, and retail math.
• Ability to influence and make decisions cross-functionally in a matrixed environment where speed and cultural sensitivity is crucial.
• Demonstrated professional presence, presentation, influencing, and collaboration across a broader team.
• Demonstrated ability to lead without authority to influence others and drive informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated curiosity, motivated to develop new skills and knowledge.
• Experience in managing dynamic projects that require the ability to flex as obstacles are presented.

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Availble upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements) Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.