What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Development Manager - Upholstery position at Gabriella White?
Core Values
Dedicated – Enthusiastic – Synergy – Integrity – Goal-oriented – Nimble
Job Summary
The Product Development Manager - Upholstery is responsible for overseeing and helping with the making of patterns, upholstery frames and providing collaborative input on new and existing SKU construction. This position is also tasked with working with Plant Leadership to ensure cost control and/or reduction of products being produced.
Essential Job Duties
1. Oversees and supports upholstery product development activities.
2. Manages data management and tracking of key upholstery product developments in data systems.
3. Ensures key calendar milestones and dates for upholstery product development are met.
4. Conducts and/or participates in weekly team meetings to ensure teams are aligned and address issues.
5. Understands product materials, construction, fit, function, and end use requirements.
6. Grows and maintains relationships with new and current suppliers.
7. Tracks all incoming costs at every change level of the product.
8. Looks for cost reduction opportunities while maintaining highest quality.
9. Helps update costing documents and systems for cross-functional teams.
10. Develops, cuts and makes patterns.
11. Works in Auto Cad and Soft Worx.
12. Communicates with plant leadership to address issues that may need support in other departments.
13. Ensures accuracy of notes documented and provided to Plant Leadership for review.
14. Recommends and implements process improvements as needed to improve production.
15. Adjusts current patterns for better efficiency.
Additional Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Other duties as assigned.
Roles
• Product development
• Pattern making
• Cost control and reduction during product development
• Continuous improvement and Quality Control
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Bachelor’s degree in Commercial, Industrial or Product Design or related field preferred.
• Ten or more years of furniture upholstery manufacturing experience.
• Must have strong experience in retail math, cost margin analysis and supplier quotes.
• Knowledge of furniture, apparel and/or soft goods construction development & production highly preferred.
• Proficient knowledge and ability to use computer-based programs such as Microsoft Office and Auto Cad required; Knowledge of Soft Worx preferable.
• Ability to work well with others as well as independently under strict deadlines.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to prioritize workload tasks.
• Strong understanding of product efficiency.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Influential in building positive partnerships with cross functional teams.
• Have a sense of urgency in managing time and ownership of deliverables.
• Strong ability to multi-task; with the desire to work in a very fast paced environment.