Junior Product Developer - Off-Price
Full-Time
Leeds - LS15
Purpose of the role:
As a
Junior Product Developer, you will play a vital role within our Product team.
You will source and manage a commercial range of products, working with sales
to achieve budgets / margins within the agreed wholesale and Retail price
architecture. Managing a team, where relevant and your ranges / customer orders
under the guidance and training of your manager.
Responsibilities:
Strategy:
* To plan, design (where applicable),
and source a commercial range of products within a structured supplier
base for our wholesale markets.
* To present your ranges and projects
to senior management and the sales team ahead of customer meetings.
* To manage the product development
process and bulk orders to an agreed critical path.
* To achieve the best garment fit /
product by working closely with QA and design where applicable.
* To manage and create seasonal
product boards and CAD booklets for seasonal launches and customer
projects.
* To negotiate with suppliers and
maintain good working relationships.
* Full understanding of customer needs
to maximise profits and provide a commercially viable range for their
selection.
* Working to customer briefs and
opportunities to develop products and stock proposals to secure new orders
in current and new categories.
* To increase sales and profit by
remaining competitive and innovative in line with our wholesale
competitors.
* To assist in sourcing / developing
new suppliers to service our portfolio, in line with our Ben Sherman
strategy.
* Liaising with suppliers and chairing
supplier meetings.
Trade and Planning:
* Manage the critical path to ensure all dates are
adhered to and delivered in full with no delays.
* Working with the merchandisers to ensure every
customer order is completed in time and following any customer specific
requirements.
* To analyse performance and to predict future trends,
forward plan and innovate – always ensuring you are fully aware of
competitors’ activities and products, be that adjacent brands or
retailers.
* Oversee all web photography where required for any
RRP and selling shoots that are agreed.
* Working closely with sales to support customer
projects and initiatives to drives sales and opportunities.
Knowledge & Skills required:
* Knowledge of casual garments /
formal garments / fabrics / constructions and factory capabilities
* Creative flair - ability to
balance creative product design with a commercial eye to create ranges and
follow briefs from customers
* The ability to cope with the
pressure of meeting tight deadlines and being reactive, managing and
re-prioritising tasks where required
* Presentation skills - visual,
verbal and written
* Organisational skills - the
ability to manage the critical path from product development to dispatch
* Team player - ability to manage
working relationships at all levels and be hands on supporting the department
to achieve strategies and budgets
* Numerate - working alongside
sales to support margin calculations and supplier costings
* Negotiation skills - ability to
work with suppliers to agree the best price for a product while maintaining
quality requirements in line with the brand and any customer requirements
* Understanding of the clothing
industry & trading environments. Broad knowledge of either retail or
wholesale environments
* Strategic thinker - able to
look forward, innovate and identify new opportunities
* Keen follower of the menswear
market & trends
* Self-motivated