We are looking for an organised and motivated Product Developer to join the team. This role would be reporting to the Product Development Manager.
The role
* Proactive management of the development process from initial design concept to handover to production team.
* Ensuring on time delivery of SMS collection to a high standard of quality suitable for a luxury brand
* Managing seasonal critical path for developments in alignment with the company CP. Communicating deadlines and priorities to internal departments and external suppliers.
* Advising regarding finishings, construction and other technical details. Flagging potential issues as early as possible and working with suppliers to find innovative solutions for unusual and challenging developments.
* Ongoing liaison with internal Atelier and external factories throughout development and pre-production in order to ensure smooth and consistent progress and maintain strong supplier relationships
* Allocating styles to suppliers, booking sampling space, and managing counter-sampling where required
* Creating and updating Tech Packs for Protos, SMS and Production.
* Calculating target make prices based on Merchandising direction and working with suppliers to achieve market-competitive RRPs.
* Creating and updating Product Costings, working with Chief of Supply Chain and Merchandising team to establish margins and pricing ahead of Sales.
* Updating and maintaining internal sample trackers for owned categories
* Periodical travel to visit factories, trade fairs and source potential new suppliers
* Working with Raw Materials Developer to support with factory-sourced fabric and trim development where required
* Tracking development spend throughout the season and flagging any unexpected rises to PD Manager
* Attending and contributing to essential meetings, including Range Reviews, Fit Sessions, and Production Handovers.
The candidate:
* Experience in Luxury Product Development
* A background working with factories in the UK, Europe, Asia and Turkey
* Organised individual with strong Adobe CS and Excel skills
* An elevated eye with strong technical understanding of fabrics, trims and garment construction
* Thrives in a fast-paced environment, with the flexibility and positive attitude required to react quickly and calmly to unexpected changes or problems
* A team player with strong communication and relationship management skills