Associate Product Development Manager - West Elm

Position Summary

Owns the product through the development lifecycle up to order placement. In development leads communication with vendors + overseas offices, drives timeline adherence and cross-functional alignment.

Candidate Description

The Associate PD Manager is team oriented and passionate about product. This person is detail oriented, thorough and committed to seeing a project through on time. They multi-task efficiently and effectively while being flexible to accommodate the changing needs of the business. This person has an understanding of retail math, product performance requirements, materials and production processes. The Associate PD manager builds strong cross functional relationships by approaching all interactions with a service mindset. This is an independent and self-motivated person that acts as an owner and excels in a fast paced, dynamic work environment.

Essential Functions

1. PD Process Ownership - Owns delivering products within parameters set by design, engineering and merchandising. Drives cross functional alignment on development goals. Leads seasonal PD kickoff meetings. Owns weekly PD meetings for assigned categories. Updates development tracker. Communicates accurate details relating to sampling, costing and product details to all cross functional partners and vendors/ agents. Tracks and approves all tooling fees.

2. Timeline Management - Drives adherence to all timing goals: spec out, sample due dates, product approval, final cost pass off, validation and PO placement. Leads the communication on sample requests, follow up and troubleshooting timelines. Builds chase T&As as needed.

3. Costing - Identifies opportunities for cost engineering and implements in development. Negotiates newness costing based on merchandising parameters.

4 . Vendor Development –In partnership with sourcing, develops deep understanding of vendor capabilities and leverages knowledge to lead the team to develop best possible product within vendor limitations.

5. Material Research and Development - Maintains materials library and supports senior manager in material and technique pre-development.

6. Sample + Product Management- Responsible for the day to day organization of workrooms, and archives where applicable, with support from assistant. Partners with design to coordinate and set up samples for milestone meetings.

7. Leadership- Provides Guidance and Mentorship to PD Associates and Assistants. Instills best practices across team. Establishes strong cross functional relationships

Benefits:

Once you are here, you can look forward to a wide variety of benefits designed to help you grow, personally and professionally, to keep you healthy, to prepare you for the unexpected, to care for your family and to build a secure future. Depending on your position and your location, here’s a look at what you might be eligible for:

• A generous discount on all Williams Sonoma Inc. brands through multiple shopping channels

• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities

• Paid vacations, holidays and other time-off programs

• Health benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care tax-free spending accounts; medical, family and bereavement leave; same-sex domestic partner benefits; short- and long-term disability programs; life and travel insurance; an employee assistance program

• Tax-free commuter benefits

• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University

• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities

• Location specific sample sales

• A business casual work environment

• San Francisco based bike share program

• Time off to volunteer

• Matching donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations

• Company-sponsored community involvement

• Various discounts on local businesses
  

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

FOR SF ONLY:

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer . Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn teen, pottery barn kids, Rejuvenation, Mark & Graham, west elm, or Outward. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.