Overview

The Product Development Manager is a creative, tenacious and customer-centric team player who is passionate about building the Hard Rock brand from a global perspective.  They work in collaboration with the Director of Product Development & Merchandising, as well as other cross functional team members, to:  Identify Global Trends, communicate Creative Direction, Source & Manage Vendors, Negotiate Cost, Develop Seasonal & Core Assortments, Manage Line Plans and Influence Marketing and Sales teams to achieve sales, profit and inventory goals in an Omni-channel environment.  The PD Manager is highly organized and manages to deadlines while always seeking efficiencies in improved process or new technology.

Qualifications

• Present a professional image to employees, guests, clients, owners and investors.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships within the business and social community.
• Contribute to annual philanthropic initiatives as connected to product.
• Operate ethically to protect the image of Hard Rock.
• Utilize programs designed to help Save the Planet.

Responsibilities

- Product Development: Strong Understanding of the product development process with the ability to manage vendors and owns PD process from concept to delivery for assigned categories. - Provide initial direction to vendors based on established Delivery Calendar and or special requests. - Manages all Timelines, including: art approval, spec approval, proto due dates and final sample review. - Leads vendor communication on all sample requests and costings. - Present concepts to internal teams at weekly meetings and seasonal line presentations. - Provide clear feedback to suppliers regarding CADS, Lab dips, Strike offs, Proto samples, Fit, Pre Pros, and TOPs. - Establish and maintain quality standards with existing and proposed vendors. - Manage Line Planning Process in partnership with Planning through final buy. - Monitor Weekly and Annual Sales to maintain awareness of customer reaction and apply to seasonal development and sourcing strategy. - Protect the brand standards via design, quality, fit, packaging, and trims. - Organization and Process: Possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, work on multiple projects at once, execute tasks and deliver results on deadlines. - Be a champion of process improvement and contribute to best practices to drive for continuous improvement. - Manage Samples, Archives and Fabric/ Trim libraries, and product development files & records retention. - Oversee Sample Request and fulfillment with Ecom, Visual and Marketing, Franchise. - Communication: Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with both internal and external partners. - Work with Internal Cross Functional Partners to support all company initiatives - Communicates accurate details related to sampling, costing and product details. - Follow-up with all external and internal partners to hit delivery deadlines. - Trend and Creative Direction: Research global trends appropriate to Hard Rock customer and brand strategy and filter to translatable concepts for development. - Create visual documents and story boards and present to internal team & vendors. - Competitive shopping to identify opportunities for design or quality. - Travel to trade shows, vendors, factories, and retail locations as needed. - Sourcing & Cost Negotiation: Identifies opportunities to cost engineer products and implement best practices to get the best product at the best cost.  - Strong Negotiation Skills across multiple vendor models. - Strategically leverage economies of scale where able, within programs and vendors. - Prepare for Production: Complete Item Set-up sheets & create in Mi9 as needed to support business demands. - Monitor Delivery Dates and facilitate a smooth process with vendors, monitoring weekly WIP Reports and communicating updates to Director and CFT members - Vendor Management: Develops and maintains relationships with all vendors and understands capabilities to ensure best product is produced. - Source new suppliers as needed to develop global product aligned with business strategy while maintaining brand quality standards. - Maintain strategic perspective of Vendor Matrix for assigned categories and continued evaluation to leverage partnerships. - Onboarding new suppliers. - Participate in vendor assessment and score card. - Provide input to update Vendor Compliance manual as needed. - Marketing: Collaborate with team providing input at Creative Turnover to Marketing message and Visual Merchandising strategy to ensure alignment with Product Design Strategy - Provide key product selling points and quality descriptions to educate and train sales team. - Manage product related packaging and trims in alignment with brand initiatives and standard. - Provide Product support for Company Marketing Initiatives. - Partner with Ecommerce team to ensure accurate representation of seasonal programs product details and features. - Manage Franchise conversion process from send out to sample comments to maintain global brand identity.