What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ralph Lauren Product Management Lead, Footwear position at BoF Careers?
Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
Position Overview
Oversee end-to-end product lifecycle across multiple brands, driving operational excellence, and strategic alignment from concept through commercialization. Ensure best-in-class execution across timelines, costing, and product readiness while partnering closely with Design, Development, Sourcing, and Planning teams. Manage / mentor to elevate team capabilities, and implement scalable processes that support growth, margin optimization, and on-time delivery.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Multi-Brand Product Lifecycle Leadership
Proven experience leading end-to-end footwear product lifecycles from concept through commercialization and bulk production Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing product management teams, including setting priorities, coaching performance, and building scalable ways of working Experience partnering with regional and global teams to resolve delays, manage dependencies, and maintain quality standards Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of translating complex information into clear direction and decisions Detail-oriented with a high standard for accuracy, product readiness, and follow-through Agile, solution-oriented mindset with comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
Position Overview
Oversee end-to-end product lifecycle across multiple brands, driving operational excellence, and strategic alignment from concept through commercialization. Ensure best-in-class execution across timelines, costing, and product readiness while partnering closely with Design, Development, Sourcing, and Planning teams. Manage / mentor to elevate team capabilities, and implement scalable processes that support growth, margin optimization, and on-time delivery.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Multi-Brand Product Lifecycle Leadership
- Oversee end-to-end product lifecycle, ensuring alignment to brand strategy and business goals
- Drive consistency in product creation processes, timelines, and deliverables across all brands
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce complexity, and improve speed-to-market Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Product Managers, providing clear direction, prioritization, and performance feedback
- Establish team best practices and elevate capabilities across product management and execution
- Act as escalation point for risks, challenges, and cross-functional alignment Strategic Planning & Execution
- Partner with cross-functional leadership to align on seasonal priorities, volume opportunities, and margin targets
- Anticipate risks within the seasonal calendar and proactively implement solutions to ensure on-time delivery
- Drive SKU discipline, adoption strategies, and product efficiency across brands Sample & Production Oversight
- Oversee sample and production readiness across brands, ensuring timely execution from proto through SRS and bulk
- Partner with regional teams to resolve delays, mitigate risks, & maintain quality standards
- Ensure strong vendor alignment and accountability across the product lifecycle PLM, Data Integrity & Systems
- Own PLM governance across brands, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and completeness
- Establish standardized processes for BOM creation, costing inputs, and product setup
- Partner with teams to enhance system usage and support future tools (e.g., demand planning, AI forecasting) Materials & Development Strategy
- Oversee seasonal material strategies across brands, ensuring alignment with design vision & cost targets
- Drive efficiencies through material consolidation, counter sourcing, and vendor partnerships
- Ensure accurate and centralized management of material libraries and seasonal data Commercialization & Product Readiness
- Ensure all products meet readiness standards for SRS and bulk production
- Oversee fit, wear testing, and risk assessment processes to uphold brand standards for quality and comfort
- Drive accountability across teams to deliver fully commercialized product on time
Proven experience leading end-to-end footwear product lifecycles from concept through commercialization and bulk production Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing product management teams, including setting priorities, coaching performance, and building scalable ways of working Experience partnering with regional and global teams to resolve delays, manage dependencies, and maintain quality standards Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of translating complex information into clear direction and decisions Detail-oriented with a high standard for accuracy, product readiness, and follow-through Agile, solution-oriented mindset with comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment