Freelance- Product Development & Production (Handbags)- Onsite- New York

About the role

We’re partnering with a luxury fashion brand seeking a Product Development & Production – Handbags & Accessories to lead the end-to-end product development and production process across handbags, small leather goods, and soft and hard accessories. This role will oversee global development, sourcing, production, vendor partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure exceptional quality, innovation, and on-time delivery from concept through bulk production.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development and production from concept through bulk production
• Develop and manage seasonal development and production calendars
• Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, and Production teams
• Oversee prototypes, SMS, BOMs, fittings, and production approvals
• Build and manage relationships with global factories, suppliers, and manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe
• Negotiate costing, lead times, and support margin objectives
• Ensure product quality, functionality, and on-time delivery
• Identify sourcing opportunities and drive process improvements across development and production
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Accessories Product Development & Production team
• Travel internationally to support factory partnerships and production execution

Qualifications

• 5 years of Accessories Product Development & Production experience
• Strong background in luxury handbags, leather goods, and accessories
• Experience working with global factories and manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe
• Strong sourcing, costing, production, and calendar management experience
• Deep understanding of leather goods construction, materials, and manufacturing processes
• Proven leadership and team management experience
• Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; RLM experience is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred