Product Development & Commercialization Manager
Serving the needs of all families with young children, Carter’s Inc. is the largest North American apparel retailer exclusively for babies and young children, encompassing Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Skip*Hop and Little Planet brands. Meaningful work, constant learning, genuine people, and a community guided by core values that promote inclusion and innovation is in everything we do. There are many reasons to build your career at Carter's.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT:
The Product Development & Commercialization Manager directly responsible for all aspects of the product development process for a strategic business unit or categories including the development, product cost reporting and approval process to deliver/exceed expectations related to the Quality, Revenue, Profitability and Costs. This role typically reports to the Sr Manager or Director of PDC and is based in our Buckhead office.
40% Strategic Collaboration:
- Manage the style mapping, fabric governance and pre-production process for a specific SBU or categories by effective partnerships with merchandising, design/art, Product integrity, Tech Design and Asia teams; balancing needs of style intent with optimal cost and margin for specified product group or program(s).
- Collaborate with Merchandising to understand and anticipate customer needs, the cost and margin goals, and actively recommend low-cost alternatives that uphold the integrity of the design.
- Collaboration with design and art teams to understand creative intent and needs. Identifying cost drivers and helping to manage expectations and prioritize needs to be competitive and create compelling products.
- Partner with the global sourcing team to provide baseline cost guidance and speak cost changes at sample review meetings.
- Good understanding of sourcing strategy for their responsible area; provide inputs to global teams that can be used to help support the brand needs and priorities.
40% Process and Calendar Adherence:
- Manage the product development process for a specific SBU including the development, facilitating product cost reporting and garment and packaging approval process to deliver/exceed expectations related to the Quality, Revenue, Profitability and Costs.
- Help enforce calendar timelines to ensure approval deadlines and fabric buy dates are met to deliver on time and satisfy customer ship dates. As well as enforcing policies related to product and style change requests.
- Ensure accurate and timely records are maintained within designated enterprise technology systems (PLM). Making sure product design changes are maintained in product Bill of Materials (BOMs) to meet the desired design and quality requirements.
- Partner with CGS teams to set standards, manage tolerances, and facilitate product costs.
- Manage potential development, safety, quality or cost concerns during the sampling & pre-production process and educate others to identify similar concerns.
20% Product Management:
- Oversee that all sample and strike off needs for specific product and/or programs happen timely and accurately as possible.
- Support the sourcing teams on providing commercial acceptability guidance when necessary.
- Subject Matter Expert for special testing, shipping, and system enhancements.
- Oversee on time & accurate execution of direct reports’ deliverables including BOM entry and PDC owned product attributes.
- Invest in direct reports development with providing real time feedback during routine check ins.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF: (REQUIREMENTS SECTION)
- 5-8 years of industry experience in either Textile or Apparel Manufacturing, Sourcing, Merchandising or Product Development.
- Bachelor’s Degree, or a minimum of 4 years of additional industry experience directly related to apparel Sourcing or Product Development
- Identify and lead special projects to meet customer needs and drive productivity; continuously guard against complexity and complacency.
- Routinely perform external research to identify process improvements and is a champion for change.
- Advanced understanding of business and profitability, product margin (IMU vs. MMU), and the ability to influence decision makers.
- Demonstrate strong, consistent problem-solving skills results driven communication.
- Professional conduct and communication with matrix-based organizations and global employees
- Manage direct reports and potentially small teams of varying skill levels.
- Expert understanding of apparel design, fabric qualities, product costing, import duty rates, printing techniques, and merchandising and product development activities.
- Advanced grammar and communication skills; capable of interpreting and conveying international business concepts.
- Advanced skills using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Superior analytical and project management skills; ability to anticipate and proactively arrive at viable solutions.
Preferred skills and experience:
- Potential for domestic or international travel, up to 10%
- Ability to lift small parcels weighing up to 30 lbs.
MAKE A CAREER AT CARTER’S:
- Career Development: Success starts from within, and we have several paths from which you can choose to enhance your career evolution. From Carter’s University to Toastmasters to mentorship programs and more, we encourage you to utilize these tools to elevate your professional prowess.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties described may be changed or reassigned at the discretion of management, and the employee may be required to perform duties that are not listed in the job description.
Carters is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.