Overview

The Product Development Manager is a creative, tenacious and customer centric team player who is passionate about building the Hard Rock brand from a global perspective. They work in collaboration with the Director of Product Development & Merchandising, as well as other cross functional team members, to: Identify Global Trends, communicate Creative Direction, Source & Manage Vendors, Negotiate Cost, Develop Seasonal & Core Assortments, Manage Line Plans and Influence Marketing and Sales teams to achieve sales, profit and inventory goals in an Omni-channel environment. The PD Manager is highly organized and manages to deadlines while always seeking efficiencies in improved process or new technology.

Responsibilities

• Product Development: Strong Understanding of the product development process with the ability to manage vendors and owns PD process from concept to delivery for assigned categories.
• Provide initial direction to vendors based on established Delivery Calendar and or special requests.
• Manages all Timelines, including: art approval, spec approval, proto due dates and final sample review.
• Leads vendor communication on all sample requests and costings.
• Present concepts to internal teams at weekly meetings and seasonal line presentations.
• Provide clear feedback to suppliers regarding CADS, Lab dips, Strike offs, Proto samples, Fit, Pre Pros, and TOPs.
• Establish and maintain quality standards with existing and proposed vendors.
• Manage Line Planning Process in partnership with Planning through final buy.
• Monitor Weekly and Annual Sales to maintain awareness of customer reaction and apply to seasonal development and sourcing strategy.
• Protect the brand standards via design, quality, fit, packaging, and trims.

• Organization and Process: Possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, work on multiple projects at once, execute tasks and deliver results on deadlines.
• Be a champion of process improvement and contribute to best practices to drive for continuous improvement.
• Manage Samples, Archives and Fabric/ Trim libraries, and product development files & records retention.
• Oversee Sample Request and fulfillment with Ecom, Visual and Marketing, Franchise.

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with both internal and external partners.
• Work with Internal Cross Functional Partners to support all company initiatives
• Communicates accurate details related to sampling, costing and product details.
• Follow-up with all external and internal partners to hit delivery deadlines.

• Trend and Creative Direction: Research global trends appropriate to Hard Rock customer and brand strategy and filter to translatable concepts for development.
• Create visual documents and story boards and present to internal team & vendors.
• Competitive shopping to identify opportunities for design or quality.
• Travel to trade shows, vendors, factories, and retail locations as needed.

• Sourcing & Cost Negotiation: Identifies opportunities to cost engineer products and implement best practices to get the best product at the best cost.
• Strong Negotiation Skills across multiple vendor models.
• Strategically leverage economies of scale where able, within programs and vendors.
• Prepare for Production: Complete Item Set-up sheets & create in Mi9 as needed to support business demands.
• Monitor Delivery Dates and facilitate a smooth process with vendors, monitoring weekly WIP Reports and communicating updates to Director and CFT members

• Vendor Management: Develops and maintains relationships with all vendors and understands capabilities to ensure best product is produced.
• Source new suppliers as needed to develop global product aligned with business strategy while maintaining brand quality standards.
• Maintain strategic perspective of Vendor Matrix for assigned categories and continued evaluation to leverage partnerships.
• Onboarding new suppliers.
• Participate in vendor assessment and score card.
• Provide input to update Vendor Compliance manual as needed.

• Marketing: Collaborate with team providing input at Creative Turnover to Marketing message and Visual Merchandising strategy to ensure alignment with Product Design Strategy
• Provide key product selling points and quality descriptions to educate and train sales team.
• Manage product related packaging and trims in alignment with brand initiatives and standard.
• Provide Product support for Company Marketing Initiatives.
• Partner with Ecommerce team to ensure accurate representation of seasonal programs product details and features.
• Manage Franchise conversion process from send out to sample comments to maintain global brand identity.

Qualifications

• Present a professional image to employees, guests, clients, owners and investors.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships within the business and social community.
• Contribute to annual philanthropic initiatives as connected to product.
• Operate ethically to protect the image of Hard Rock.
• Utilize programs designed to help Save the Planet.

Additional Details

MINIMUM

• 10 years product development experience in retail or wholesale environment.
• Proven successful track record.
• College Degree Required.
• Must be able to think “outside the box.”
• Travel flexibility.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Detailed oriented.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Microsoft Office Suite- Intermediate Outlook, Word, Power Point, Excel skills.
• Adobe Creative Suite applications: Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat – intermediate
• Product Line Management systems

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Must possess strong communication and listening skills, excellent speaking, reading and writing.
• Comprehend and use technical or professional language, either written or spoken, to communicate complex ideas.
• Strong presentation skills that effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations internal and external partners inclusive of executives and vendors.
• Multiple language abilities a plus, verbal and written fluency in English required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to move throughout the corporate office and cafes during visits (standing, walking, kneeling, and bending) for extended periods of time.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to make repeating movements of the arms, hands, and wrists.
• Ability to express or exchange ideas verbally and perceive sound by ear.
• Manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and ability to work with hand above shoulders.
• Ability to occasionally, regularly, frequently move objects (lift, push, pull, balance, carry) up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to turn or twist body parts in a circular motion.
• Ability to tolerate exposure to heat, cold, chemicals, and loud/noisy environment.
• Ability to travel via auto or airplane for long periods of time.

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