Artisan 34 · 1 day ago
Director of Product Development
Hazlet, NJ
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
12+ years expArtisan 34 is a global manufacturer and design house of Home Textiles and Décor products, established in 2018. The Director of Product Development will lead the strategic execution of product development and sourcing initiatives, ensuring products meet customer needs and are delivered on time while collaborating with various teams to drive category growth.
Home DecorManufacturingTextiles
Responsibilities
Define the product vision and roadmap for each customer project ensuring it aligns with overall business strategy and customer needs
Oversee each customer project, providing strategic direction to guide the Product Managers for their respective categories
Work directly with VP of Product Development and Design to execute inventory order placement by category for Home Goods/TJX customers according to the order placement calendar to be submitted to production after VP approval
Work directly with VP of Product Development and Design to execute product lines for licensed brands (usually coinciding with a market, but sometimes may be off market)
If design is necessary for a project, partner with the design team by providing them with detailed direction based on your category expertise
Ensure deadlines are provided by the sales team and that they are realistic for the project/the team’s current workload
Help determine how many and which factories we are sourcing a product with based on factory capacity, experience and specialty to ensure the best chances of converting the project into an order
Communicate product strategies clearly to our suppliers and negotiate desired prices for each program
Analyze costs, negotiate pricing, and identify opportunities to optimize margins without compromising quality
Consistently manage factory relationships to ensure we are getting all of the information and production ready samples needed
Get ahead of any potential roadblocks and address them with the factory in advance of supplying the information to the sales team in regards to product or design execution, product specs, upcharges, container fills, carton dimensions etc…
Ensure each project folder is properly managed and information remains clear and organized
Ability to jump in to provide support to the team/troubleshoot with the factory and or handle customer projects as needed
Work closely with the sales team to maintain and or initiate projects for each customer based on their specific needs
Attend customer meetings weekly (NYC Showroom and/or virtual) to gather firsthand feedback from the buyer
Recap and work with the Product Development Managers to analyze and implement accordingly
Bring a level of product expertise to each customer meeting – looking for product muscle
Deliver project details in a clear and organized way to the sales team
Maintain clear and consistent communication with the sales team to ensure they have the information they need to effectively sell our products and follow up to confirm outcome of each project
Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities for new products and enhancements to existing offerings
Competitive shop with the PD and Design teams on a weekly basis at the retailers we sell to ensuring that we are ahead of the curve and we are pitching products that are in line with their trends and retail values
Shop inspirational retailers both in store and online with VP of Product Development and PD/Design teams each season to inform design and development
Maintain category line lists for core assortments, updating them by season, to ensure there is a baseline product offering for our customers (this is in addition to any project specific needs they have)
Work with the VP of Product Development to execute vision for bi-annual market weeks and look book presentations
Lead the Product Development team to foster collaboration and innovation
Mentor and develop the Product Development team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and growth
Hold weekly touch bases with team members to review and shift workload based on the everchanging needs of the business
Attend weekly touch bases with VP of Product Development and Design to review overall PD department workload and collaborate on strategic projects
Partner and work cross functionally with design, sales, and production on weekly basis
Qualification
Required
12+ years of product development experience, with at least 4 years in management role
Experience partnering cross-functionally with Sales, Design, and Sourcing teams
Strong understanding of sourcing, costing, factory capabilities, and retail pricing structures
Strong negotiation skills with a track record of achieving cost savings and favorable supplier agreements
Excellent analytical abilities, with the capacity to analyze complex data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
Capable of multitasking and problem-solving effectively in a dynamic environment
Ability to juggle various functions at one time but stay focused on the big picture
A sense of urgency and personal ownership of performance with the ability to work through barriers and challenges to deliver results
Able to be in our NYC Showroom 1x per week or other week to join buyer meetings
Available for international travel 3 times a year
Highly organized and detail oriented
Outstanding time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple deadlines and priorities
A strategic thinker who understands both the creative and commercial sides of the business
Ability to lead a team - Exceptional organizational and communication skills
Confident communicator and collaborator who builds strong relationships across teams and with internal partners
Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Passionate about craftsmanship, quality, and bringing elevated products to our customers!
Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office. General Illustrator, Photoshop and AI knowledge is a plus
Enthusiastic and dependable attitude
Ability to adapt to fast-paced, ever-changing environment
Preferred
Bachelor's or Master's degree in related field preferred
Benefits
Health
Dental
Vision
401K plans
Paid Time-Off for Vacation and Holidays
Work-from-Home Friday’s
Summer Fridays
Business Casual Environment
Company
Artisan 34
Artisan 34 develops and designs home decor and textile products inspired by current fashion trends.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Amir Elliott
Chief Executive Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase