Job Abstract

Job Family

Production, Sourcing & Compliance

Employee Type

Regular

Position Type

Full-Time

Free People Movement is hiring a Senior Director of Product Development who will be a proactive leader, capable of building multiple progressive strategies & driving execution through direct & cross functional teams. The Senior Director of Product Development has a strong global understanding of product capabilities, regional cost drivers, and geo-political awareness. This role identifies key trends in business and adjusts strategies prior to purchase. Ensuring commercialization of product to company, brand, legal, and customer standards. Strategic vision & execution across multiple departments with awareness of contribution to total brand & total company.

Strategy

• Develop and execute a strategic and operational product development plan in line with current and future needs of the company. Product Development strategy will align with multiple departments, brand, and URBN initiatives. Alignment will include materials development, innovative product, vendor allocation, speed-to-market, cost reduction, quality, risk mitigation, supplier continuity, and utilization of emerging markets/opportunities.
• Develop long term product line & supplier partnerships in alignment with production, sourcing operations, supplier projections and business trends. Create long term vision, plan and problems solve with an eye towards scalability, sustainability, and building initiatives 3 - 5 years out. Consider team capacity and bandwidth when allocating resources to strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate and execute the brand design vision through translation of concept into a meaningful strategy of pre-development, style development, and management of process and calendars, including material sourcing, delivering 3D visualization, troubleshooting material, and managing price issues

Product

• Monitor and manage the full product development process including research & development of new techniques & materials. Material procurement for sampling, digital product creation and/or sampling execution. Sign off on final product allocation, target costs and minimums. Maintain excellent coordination technical design/engineers to provide and cost engineering and execution challenges.
• Create and maintain a “product first” environment and deliver brand aligned aesthetic vision through “right-first time” development within aligned line plans and target adoption rates. product IMU, with the goal of achieving necessary financial results.

Costing / KPI’s

• Contribute to building annual IMU targets and managing both seasonal & reorder collections to achieve class, department, and brand goals.
• Negotiate & Deliver product costing to achieve department goals.
• Deliver speed to market initiatives to achieve department goals.

Sourcing

• Proactively source new partners with influence/ collaboration from Executive team
• Build & develop dynamic supplier matrix to cover short & long term needs of the business.
• Manage partnerships & onboarding of new sources to achieve regional sourcing goals.

Timeline

• Build a progressive brand calendar from ground up that is intuitive to both the brand needs, production requirements, and supply chain conditions
• Support Merchants’ needs and business requirements by aligning sourcing base with calendar and product needs, including late adds, chase product, quick-turn styles, web exclusives, sample accuracy, and test product.
• Build and promote key relationships between stakeholders to execute calendar and processes that drive speed-to-market initiatives and reduce weeks of supply. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to meet margin goals and costing metrics.

Team Leadership

• Provide strong leadership, management, development, and training to the sourcing and brand team members. Continuously reevaluate and align the team/process to the company’s strategy.
• Set team goals and make management decisions. Proactively mentor and coach others. Strong influencer that can positively affect change across multiple business areas. Expert in multiple subject areas.
• Lead cross-functional groups on projects. Tapped as an "expert" to provide insight and input cross-functionally. Provides feedback to stakeholders across the company as it relates to expertise/domain area.
• Exhibits high quality feedback skills; helps others mature their feedback skills. Sets an example for cross-functional collaboration. Shares relevant information and knowledge widely. Able to influence vendor community; communicating business strategy in a manner that inspires vendors to align with company strategy & brand standards.

• 18+ years or more of progressive development and sourcing experience within a complex, fast paced apparel, or consumer product environment.
• Specialty retail and/or direct-to-consumer experience is preferred.
• Experienced people manager with a record of accomplishment building and engaging high performing teams.
• A successful record of accomplishment of building relationships with cross functional partners and offering new and innovative solutions to development issues/challenges.
• Proven success in a leadership role managing and developing large teams.
• Experience developing and leveraging strategic business relationships with vendors/suppliers.
• Ability to anticipate business/brand needs and to create long term solutions.
• Process improvement capabilities including proven examples of implementing operational efficiencies.
• Works with a high sense of urgency and integrity and is motivated by deadlines and new challenges.

#LI-AB3

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

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.