Job Focus and Goal

Become a cycling and athletic apparel professional. Combine product line management, merchandising, design, technical design and development skills into the creation of seasonal product lines. You are responsible for delivering high quality product, 96% on time, with less than 1% return rate and at a gross margins in excess of 50% while growing sales.

Job Summary

The focus of this position will be the management, design, development, merchandising and planning of Descente product lines on a seasonal basis. You will need to exercise substantial independent judgment and discipline. Sales growth, brand esteem, on-time delivery, quality, reduced obsolescence, margins and low return rates are the measures of success. You will be a key member of a seasoned team of professionals.

Responsibilities

1. Rigorously follow the product development calendar so that on-time delivery is assured. Ensure everyone involved in the seasonal effort are informed and aware of the status of the time line.
2. Conduct market research and analysis. Develop thorough understanding of the market and competitive landscape. Develop thorough understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses through analysis of sales, customer feedback, returns etc.
3. Develop the seasonal line brief, maintain the line plan and minisheets for each season, taking into consideration all merchandising areas including new style/silhouette suggestions, style cancellations, updates, new and existing textiles, existing inventories, colors, prints, trims, fit, prices, pricing structures, etc.
4. Create seasonal product briefs. Once approved, design, develop and commercialize all styles on time through the line planning process, line review meetings, prototyping process, size set reviews, sales samples and sales sample reviews and, finally, top of production samples. This clearly needs to be consistent with objectives as defined by the line brief.
5. Determine and finalize best raw material sources for fabrics, trims and findings. Develop these with vendors and finalize specs so they are ready to buy.
6. Develop specification packages and technical drawings of all finished-goods styles under your direction that will guide vendors making our products. Constantly and consistently work with and communicate with factories to facilitate this process
7. Assist in the design and implementation of standard design and development practices and tools so that the division can operate at a high level of efficiency and effectiveness.
8. In conjunction with the rest of the team seek out possible new manufacturers who provide the best balance between cost, quality, on-time delivery, and value-added services.
9. Evaluate all prototypes, textiles, lab dips, findings, trims etc. etc. under your direction through fit sessions, measurements and testing and address any and all issues in a concise way with manufacturers.
10. Deliver photo samples on time. Work with production manager to delivery sales samples on time, correct to spec and cost effectively.
11. Work with the marketing department to implement seasonal packaging, header-card, hangtag and label appearances and characteristics.
12. Seek out cost reductions through product design, manufacturing efficiencies and sourcing.
13. With other developers, maintain a well organized library of fabric swatches, trims and other raw materials on a vendor by vendor basis. Maintain the raw materials database (In Excel right now)
14. Coordinate lab dips for each season so that each vendor delivers the colors we need for each specified fabric, in a timely manner.
15. Follow up on quality problems as they develop and resolve to final solution with assistance of the pre-production manager.
16. Develop a stable of athletes to help evaluate product function and act on results as necessary. Track prototype comments and results.
17. Travel to vendors from time to time to oversee, evaluate and/or direct production of prototypes, sales samples and finished goods. Attend industry trade shows (e.g.: Outdoor Retailer)as necessary in order to evaluate new opportunities in materials and sourcing.
18. Work in the field from time to time with sales agents and customers. Attend industry trade shows (Interbike) and help in the presentation of the line at such shows and sales meetings.

Qualifications and Requirements
• Education: Degree in fashion, merchandising, design or related field.
• Experience: 4-6 years design and product development experience in textiles, apparel. Athletic apparel experience preferred.
• Abilities and Skills: Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills required. Analytic, negotiation and oversight skills required. Expert knowledge of Adobe Illustrator required. Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator required. Excel required.
• Autonomy: Works independently with low level of supervision.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Working in a team and mentoring environment.
• Physical/Mental Demands: Normal office conditions. Intermittent Domestic and international travel. Supports multiple season production/development concurrently. Required to work outside regular business hours. Ability to personally evaluate product is required.

Please submit resume and cover letter through Malakye.com