What are the responsibilities and job description for the Urban Outfitters Program Manager position at URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly)?
Urban Outfitters looking for a Program Manager who acts as the "single source of truth" for our product lifecycle. This is not a passive coordination role; it is a high-visibility position for a driver who takes radical ownership of the product calendar, cross-functional communication, and the relentless pursuit of alignment.
You will be the heartbeat of the Merchant, Planning and Design teams, ensuring we deliver the right product at the exact right time. You aren’t just managing a schedule—you are anticipating friction, hunting down missing information, and assertively (but professionally) pushing decision-makers to finalize choices so the engine keeps moving.
Role Responsibilities
Uncompromising Calendar Command
URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits
EEO Statement
URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.
You will be the heartbeat of the Merchant, Planning and Design teams, ensuring we deliver the right product at the exact right time. You aren’t just managing a schedule—you are anticipating friction, hunting down missing information, and assertively (but professionally) pushing decision-makers to finalize choices so the engine keeps moving.
Role Responsibilities
Uncompromising Calendar Command
- Own the Master Plan: Take full ownership of the master department and product calendars. Ensure every milestone, from sketch review to launch, is accurate and visible.
- Force Finality: Proactively identify upcoming decision points. You are responsible for ensuring the right stakeholders are in the room and have the data they need to make timely decisions that protect our budget and deadlines.
- Mitigate Risk: Use your "radar" to spot potential bottlenecks weeks in advance. When a delay looms, you don't just report it—you raise the alarm and work through concerns with leadership to find a solution.
- The Follow-Up Specialist: You have a "zero loose ends" mentality. You track down "TBDs," clarify vague meeting notes, and ensure every action item has an owner and a deadline.
- Cadence & Clarity: Establish and lead a rigorous communication rhythm. You ensure all divisions (PD, Production, Sourcing) are synchronized and that no one is operating in a silo.
- Meeting Hygiene: Run point on meeting discipline. This means "no-fluff" agendas, aggressive decision-tracking, and immediate post-meeting accountability.
- Connect the Dots: Deeply understand the timelines of our partners in Sourcing, Production, and PD. You are the bridge that ensures their needs are integrated into the Design and Merchant workflows.
- Workload Visibility: Monitor development progress to provide real-time visibility into "overdevelopment." You’ll partner with the Design Director to use this data for smarter staffing and resource allocation.
- Lead GTM Initiatives: Run point on critical programs including Go-To-Market (GTM) processes, digital strategy, and sample management.
- Continuous Improvement: We don't settle for "how we've always done it." You will constantly audit our workflows and implement best practices to sharpen our efficiency.
- The Experience: Ideally 5 years in Program/Project Management, specifically within Retail, Fashion, or Consumer Goods. You understand the "seasonal" nature of product development. Alternatively, 5 years in Buying, Sourcing, or Design Coordination.
- The "Driver" DNA: You are naturally proactive and assertive. You’re comfortable "managing up" and holding senior leaders accountable to the calendar.
- The Precisionist: You have a near-obsessive attention to detail. You believe that a "missed" date on a calendar is a failure of the system, and you take it personally.
- The Toolmaster: Expert-level proficiency in project management software (Asana, Smartsheet, Monday.com, or PLM systems).
- The Communicator: You can navigate "constructive friction." You know how to be the "tough" person in the room while maintaining high-trust professional relationships.
URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits
EEO Statement
URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.