Product Developer Manager, Hair Accessories

American Exchange Group•New York, NY

About The Position

American Exchange Group is an industry leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. By facilitating distribution to major retailers internationally for their globally recognized brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brands—including footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, home, and beauty—American Exchange Group raises the bar by disrupting the status quo with value and quality, while staying at the forefront of trends. Joining American Exchange Group means being part of a dynamic and diverse team where your contributions drive real impact—and where there’s always room to grow. If you're looking to be part of a company that blends heritage with hustle, we’re excited to meet you. Visit our website at www.axnygroup.com Job Title: Product Development Manager - Hair Accessories Reporting directly to the Vice President of Product Development, you'll own the creative vision, product development and merchandising strategy for multiple licensed and private label fashion and lifestyle brands, leading collections from concept through production. This is an opportunity to shape established brands, launch new ones and help drive the future of our business. We're looking for someone with exceptional design instincts, strong business acumen and a passion for creating products that customers love.

Requirements

8+ years of product development experience. Preferably in hair accessories.
Proven track record developing successful accessories for national or global fashion or lifestyle brands.
Expert knowledge of accessory construction, movements, materials and manufacturing.
Extensive experience working directly with overseas factories throughout the product development process.
Strong understanding of merchandising, trend forecasting and consumer insights.
Ability to balance creativity with commercial objectives, including costing, pricing and margin considerations.
Experience presenting to executive leadership, licensors and major retail customers.
Exceptional organizational, communication and project management skills.
Ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to mentor and inspire others.
Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
Experience leveraging AI tools to support design and product development is a plus
Portfolio Required Please include a portfolio showcasing your design process, trend research and examples of commercially successful product development.

Responsibilities

Lead the creative direction and seasonal product strategy for multiple accessory brands.
Develop innovative hair accessories collections from concept through production.
Research global trends, shop the marketplace and analyze competitors to identify emerging opportunities and white space.
Develop innovative products that align with brand positioning, customer expectations and target retail price points
Collaborate closely with executive leadership, sales teams and key retail customers to develop compelling product assortments and merchandising strategies.
Present concepts, trend direction and seasonal collections to executive leadership, licensors and retail partners.
Partner directly with overseas manufacturers to ensure design intent, quality, costing and on time delivery
Work closely with licensors to ensure products meet all brand standards and approval requirements.
Analyze sales performance, customer insights and market trends to drive future product development.
Mentor junior designers and foster a collaborative, high performing creative team.
Manage multiple brands and product launches while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and meeting timelines.

Benefits

Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
Flexible Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSs)
Tax-free commuter benefits
Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

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