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Product Development Associate
Kayser-Roth Corporation
Greensboro, NC, United States
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Job Responsibilities:
Product Development
• Work closely with Design, Tech Design and Sourcing to develop Leggings for Hue, Utopia and Simply Vera as well as other brands as assigned.
• Participate in one competitive shopping trip per season.
• Work closely with Sourcing to understand new fabric developments/selections for each season.
• Attend meetings related to the brands/categories of responsibility to understand brand strategy and initial design ideas.
• Participate in weekly meetings with Merchandising and Design to review and discuss outstanding and/or current issues as well as current development needs.
• Communicate daily with vendors to ensure clarity on all aspects of development, KR requirements and to ensure timely submits for approvals.
• Ensure that PLM product information is accurate for vendors to access.
• Maintain development tracking chart.
• Review all color and wash submits in a timely manner, communicating rejections / approvals while maintaining solid documentation.
• Understand calendar and ensure all product development deadlines are met.
• Understand garment costing and support Sourcing / Product Development Manager in any costing related topics.
• Work closely with Sourcing/Production team on issues that could negatively affect production and delivery.
• Facilitate effective team interaction
• Participate in the maintenance of opening KR mail, submit filing, storage room, storage areas, sample sale preparation
• Assist with development of multilingual labels as needed.
Quality
• Understand all new products and strategy.
• Identify and proactively address any potential garment quality and/or execution issues during the development stage.
• Monitor vendor garment execution and trim qualities and provide appropriate direction for improvement when needed.
• Ensure all final tech packs are completed in PLM correctly and on time.
• Track, review and follow up on Pre-Production and Top of Production Samples in a timely manner, to insure on time quality product.
• Review and reference WIP reports from suppliers to effectively prioritize submit reviews.
• Create and Maintain trim library for specific brand/category of responsibility
• Distribute approved Top of Production Samples to the Quality team for reference during quality audits.
• Work closely with KR PD/Quality team on any production related product review / topic.
• Be involved in decision making when DC audits do not pass inspection.
Company Strategy/ Vendor Development
• Understand vendor matrix and vendor capabilities to assist Sourcing and Product Development Manager on sourcing strategy decisions.
• Participate in the selection process of new vendors with Sourcing
• Provide guidelines and training to new vendors on product development processes including KR manual, PLM, submit forms, sample submit processes, PP and TOP expectations.
• Ensure new vendors receive initial and supplemental PLM training.
• Send submits / samples to suppliers for cost exercises when needed.
Fit/ Wear Testing
• Attend fit sessions and act as liaison between design/merchandising and fit team.
• Determine when wear testing is warranted and administer wear tests as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by manager.
Required Skills:
Job Qualifications:
Knowledge of knit product, understanding of garment development processes, understanding of trims and knit fabrics. Understanding of garment production and testing. Very strong organization and follow-up skills, attention to detail. Ability to assess quality of goods. Strong, clear communication skills. Ability to excel in multi-tasking, cross-functional collaboration and possess knowledge of the following:
• Knit garment construction, preferably knit bottoms, sleepwear
• Ability to pass a color test
• Experience evaluating/communicating color visually and via spectrophotometer
• Product performance test methods and commercially acceptable requirements for knitted apparel
• Overseas Supplier Experience
• Develop Cycle experience
Required Experience:
Required Education/Training:
• College degree desirable, background in product development, production and fashion of knit/legging products.
• Previous product development/sourcing experience.
• Excellent basic computer skills