PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & COMMERCIALIZATION MANAGER

 
Job Description
Carter's, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children. The Company owns the Carter's and OshKosh B'gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are sold in leading department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers domestically and internationally. They are also sold through more than 1,000 Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and online at www.carters.com, www.oshkosh.com, and www.cartersoshkosh.ca. The Company's Just One You and Genuine Kids brands are available at Target, its Child of Mine brand is available at Walmart, and its Simple Joys brand is available on Amazon. The Company also owns Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children. Carter's is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information may be found at www.carters.com.
40% Essential job functions
- Manage the DTV (design to value), fabric governance and pre-production process for a specific product or group of products by effective
partnerships with merchandising, design/art, Product integrity and Asia teams; balancing needs of style intent with optimal cost and margin
for specified product group or program(s).
- Collaborate with Merchandising to understand and anticipate customer needs, the cost and margin goals, and actively recommend low-cost
alternatives that uphold the integrity of the design.
- Collaboration with design and art teams to understand creative intent and needs. Identifying cost drivers and helping to manage
expectations and prioritize needs to be completive and create compelling products.
- Partner with the global sourcing team to provide benchmark and baseline cost guidance and collaborate on product cost targets.
- Good understand of sourcing strategy for their responsible area; provide inputs to global teams that can be used to help support the brand
needs and priorities.
40% Essential job functions
- Manage the product development process for specific products and/or programs including the development, product cost reporting and
garment and packaging approval process to deliver/exceed expectations related to the Quality, Revenue, Profitability and Costs.
- Help enforce calendar timelines to ensure approval deadlines and fabric buy dates are met to deliver on time and satisfy customer ship
dates. As well as enforce policies related to product and style change requests.
- Ensure accurate and timely records are maintained within designated enterprise technology systems (PLM). Making sure product design
changes and maintained on product Bill of Materials (BOMs) to meet the desired design and quality requirements.
- Partner with CGS teams to set standards, manage tolerances, and control product costs.
- Manage potential development, safety, quality or cost concerns during the sampling & pre-production process and educate others to
identify similar concerns
20% Essential job Functions
- Oversee that all sample and strikeoff needs for specific product and/or programs happen timely and accurately as possible.
- Support the sourcing teams on providing commercial acceptability guidance when necessary.
- Subject Matter Expert for special testing, shipping, and sampling needs for specific customers (Costco, Sam's, Wal-Mart, etc.)
SUPERVISORY / BUDGETARY / EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITY
- Professional conduct and communication with matrix-based organizations and global employees
- Manage direct reports and potentially small teams of varying skill levels
SECONDARY FUNCTIONS (IF APPLICABLE - ANY DUTIES NOT CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL)
- Identify and lead special projects to meet customer needs and drive productivity; continuously guard against complexity and complacency
- Routinely perform external research to identify process improvements and is a champion for change
- Advanced understanding of business and profitability, product margin (IMU vs. MMU), and the ability to influence decision makers
 
Experience and Skills
- Expert understanding of apparel design, fabric qualities, product costing, import duty rates, printing techniques, and merchandising and
product development activities
- Advanced grammar and communication skills; capable of interpreting and conveying international business concepts
- Advanced skills using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Superior analytical and project management skills; ability to anticipate and proactively arrive at viable solutions
PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- 5 to 8 years industry experience in either Textile and/or Apparel Manufacturing, Sourcing, Merchandising or Product Development
- Bachelors Degree, or a minimum of 4 years of additional industry experience directly related to apparel Sourcing or Product Development
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Potential for domestic or international travel, up to 10%
- Ability to lift small parcels weighing up to 30 lbs.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties described may be changed or reassigned at the discretion of management, and the employee
may be required to perform duties that are not listed in the job description
Carters is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.