Associate, Product Development - Handbags

Tory Burch•New York, NY

10d

About The Position

As a Product Development Associate at Tory Burch, you will play a vital cross functional role in bringing beautifully crafted, high quality handbags to market while supporting key financial objectives. This position partners closely with Design, Materials, Merchandising, Production, and to ensure seamless execution throughout the product lifecycle. Responsible for adherence to development calendars, tracking timelines and maintaining product data, the Associate keeps all stakeholders informed and aligned. This role supports fast paced, seasonal development, ensuring operational timelines are met while driving clear communication, precise sample execution, and overall process excellence across categories. A day in the life is...atypical. Responsibilities might include the following: DEVELOPMENT Daily partnership with Design to manage spec turnover and troubleshoot sample making, from proto stages through final handoff into production. Reviews all specs (BOMs/tech packs) for accuracy, completeness, quality, affordability, and compliance prior to issuance. Passes specs to manufacturing partners on behalf of Design and communicates daily with overseas partners on questions and changes to specs, standards, and aids in interpreting design needs. Acts as a liaison between Design, Materials, and Merchandising teams to create alignment and resolve issues throughout development stages. Recommends design enhancements or options geared at hitting financial requirements and quality standards. Escalates to manager when any design is at risk of not meeting design, merchandising, production or financial needs. Schedules, tracks, and reports on all requested samples. Reviews samples to ensure faithful execution to spec, and raises any deviation from request. Schedule and attend sample reviews with timely recaps issued to cross-functional stakeholders Maintain an accurate and comprehensive style tracker (via PLM system) capturing the full lifecycle from concept through production. COSTING Support manager in cost analysis and estimations based on product direction Partner with factories to identify cost drivers or changes that impact IMU, and escalate to manager or cross-functionals as needed With internal materials departments, work to recommend materials that are viable for our brand from a costing and quality standpoint, while considering Design point of view PRODUCT INTEGRITY Considers product critically from a quality standpoint, as importantly as design and cost Ensures that all components and constructions used are compliant for performance and restricted substances prior to production, by escalating information coming in from factory partners Provides product information as needed for customs compliance prior to production. Ensures internal systems are maintained with accurate updates at each development stage to ensure the integrity of the information available for cross-functional partners & business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent relevant professional experience
Minimum of 2 years of experience in fashion accessories product development, sourcing, and/or production
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required
Prior experience working with PLM systems is required
Strong organizational, interpersonal, time management, and negotiation skills
Solid understanding of retail math and its application to product decisions
Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fluid, multi-channel business environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible language
Strong understanding of the product lifecycle, including key timelines, milestones, and contingencies, with the ability to articulate the purpose of each stage

Responsibilities

Daily partnership with Design to manage spec turnover and troubleshoot sample making, from proto stages through final handoff into production.
Reviews all specs (BOMs/tech packs) for accuracy, completeness, quality, affordability, and compliance prior to issuance.
Passes specs to manufacturing partners on behalf of Design and communicates daily with overseas partners on questions and changes to specs, standards, and aids in interpreting design needs.
Acts as a liaison between Design, Materials, and Merchandising teams to create alignment and resolve issues throughout development stages.
Recommends design enhancements or options geared at hitting financial requirements and quality standards.
Escalates to manager when any design is at risk of not meeting design, merchandising, production or financial needs.
Schedules, tracks, and reports on all requested samples.
Reviews samples to ensure faithful execution to spec, and raises any deviation from request.
Schedule and attend sample reviews with timely recaps issued to cross-functional stakeholders
Maintain an accurate and comprehensive style tracker (via PLM system) capturing the full lifecycle from concept through production.
Support manager in cost analysis and estimations based on product direction
Partner with factories to identify cost drivers or changes that impact IMU, and escalate to manager or cross-functionals as needed
With internal materials departments, work to recommend materials that are viable for our brand from a costing and quality standpoint, while considering Design point of view
Considers product critically from a quality standpoint, as importantly as design and cost
Ensures that all components and constructions used are compliant for performance and restricted substances prior to production, by escalating information coming in from factory partners
Provides product information as needed for customs compliance prior to production.
Ensures internal systems are maintained with accurate updates at each development stage to ensure the integrity of the information available for cross-functional partners & business needs.