Associate, Product Development - Handbags

About the role

We are seeking a Product Development Associate to play a vital cross-functional role in bringing beautifully crafted, high quality handbags to market while supporting key financial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Daily partnership with Design to manage spec turnover and troubleshoot sample making, from proto stages through final handoff into production.
• Reviews all specs (BOMs/tech packs) for accuracy, completeness, quality, affordability, and compliance prior to issuance.
• Passes specs to manufacturing partners on behalf of Design and communicates daily with overseas partners on questions and changes to specs, standards, and aids in interpreting design needs.
• Acts as a liaison between Design, Materials, and Merchandising teams to create alignment and resolve issues throughout development stages.
• Recommends design enhancements or options geared at hitting financial requirements and quality standards. Escalates to manager when any design is at risk of not meeting design, merchandising, production or financial needs.
• Schedules, tracks, and reports on all requested samples.
• Reviews samples to ensure faithful execution to spec, and raises any deviation from request.
• Schedule and attend sample reviews with timely recaps issued to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Maintain an accurate and comprehensive style tracker (via PLM system) capturing the full lifecycle from concept through production.
• Supports manager in cost analysis and estimations based on product direction.
• Works with factories to identify cost drivers or changes that impact IMU, and escalates to manager or cross-functionals as needed.
• Works with internal materials departments to recommend materials that are viable for our brand from a costing and quality standpoint, while considering Design point of view.
• Considers product critically from a quality standpoint, as importantly as design and cost.
• Ensures that all components and constructions used are compliant for performance and restricted substances prior to production, by escalating information coming in from factory partners.
• Provides product information as needed for customs compliance prior to production.
• Ensures internal systems are maintained with accurate updates at each development stage to ensure the integrity of the information available for cross-functional partners & business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in fashion accessories product development, sourcing, and/or production.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Prior experience working with PLM systems.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, time management, and negotiation skills.
• Solid understanding of retail math and its application to product decisions.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fluid, multi-channel business environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible language.
• Solid understanding of the product lifecycle, including key timelines, milestones, and contingencies, with the ability to articulate the purpose of each stage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in fashion accessories product development, sourcing, and/or production.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Prior experience working with PLM systems.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, time management, and negotiation skills.
• Solid understanding of retail math and its application to product decisions.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fluid, multi-channel business environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible language.
• Solid understanding of the product lifecycle, including key timelines, milestones, and contingencies, with the ability to articulate the purpose of each stage.

Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Prior experience working with PLM systems.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, time management, and negotiation skills.
• Solid understanding of retail math and its application to product decisions.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fluid, multi-channel business environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible language.
• Solid understanding of the product lifecycle, including key timelines, milestones, and contingencies, with the ability to articulate the purpose of each stage.

Benefits

We offer a generous set of benefits to help you take care of your heath, create financial security, and achieve wellness in all areas of your life. Here are highlights of key benefits available to all Tory Burch members that work over 30 hours.

Pay

The compensation range for this position is 70,000.00 USD - 75,000.00 USD. Our offer will be based on your relevant experience and work location.

Schedule

Our schedule is flexible to accommodate your needs.