Director, PD and Production, Accessories

Position Title: Director, Product Development & Production, Accessories

Reporting to Title: Chief Officer, Product Development and Production Sourcing

Summary:

As the Director, Product Development & Production, Accessories, you will manage and oversee all aspects of product development and production operations for our accessories business, with a focus on handbags and small leather goods (SLG). In this role you will be responsible for ensuring all company initiatives are properly executed from beginning to end, leading strategic planning and development of the product while ensuring it meets both the aesthetic and design requirements, company IMUs, and product flow.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop clear development and production calendars to meet business needs. Work closely with senior team members across development and design to ensure handbag and SLG products are developed to meet overall business objectives, quality requirements, and global market testing standards.
• Lead and foster the growth of the Accessories PD & Production team and collaborate with design and merchandising teams to create seasonal collections that satisfy aesthetics, cost, functionality, and manufacturing requirements.
• Work with teams to improve processes and provide a nimble supply chain from beginning to end. Work cross-functionally to improve internal systems and ensure teams can work efficiently.
• Lead and manage communication flow between internal partners (design, development, merchandising) and external partners (manufacturers, raw material and hardware suppliers, component vendors).
• Attend and monitor prototype, SMS, BOM, and pre-production meetings to drive decision-making and achieve departmental goals.
• Initiate clear directives with material and design teams to improve department profitability.
• Ensure all yearly financial budgets are properly met.
• Analyze factory cost sheets and negotiate costing with production teams to achieve financial margin targets.
• Travel internationally to manufacturing partners to expedite prototype development and ensure production flows are met.
• Identify and build vendor relationships to achieve corporate goals for sample and bulk delivery, costing, and quality, and manage conflict resolution.
• Ensure proper protocols are in place for quality and return concerns. Initiate seasonal hindsights with key departments, vendors, and HK operational teams.
• Identify sourcing gaps and recommend new suppliers to meet business objectives and product needs across handbags and SLG.
• Seek opportunities to reduce operational costs, reduce lead time, and increase efficiency.
• Align with key RTW leads on best practices and overall business objectives.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer M/D/F/V

In compliance with the New York City salary transparency requirements, the potential salary for this position is from $165,000 to $175,000, which represents a range commensurate with experience, knowledge, and skills required.

Requirements

• 9+ years of global accessories product development experience, with a concentration in handbags and small leather goods
• Experience with manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Strong sourcing and production understanding
• Strong aesthetic sense and deep construction knowledge in luxury leather goods and hardware
• Fundamental understanding of handbag and SLG construction, costing, functionality, calendar management, and material applications
• Extensive accessories development and manufacturing knowledge to interpret design needs, anticipate potential issues, and implement solutions
• Effective cross-functional collaborator driving on-time delivery, target costs, and appropriate quality and functionality
• Strong problem-solving, negotiation, planning, and organizational skills
• Experience managing and leading teams
• Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, and multitasking skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; experience in RLM preferred

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Clothing allowance & discounted merchandise
• Healthcare (medical/dental/vision) coverage
• Flexible spending account (FSA) & Commuter benefits
• 401(k) savings plan with employer match
• Summer Fridays