Job Description

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
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