Product Development and Commercialization Associate

Carters Inc.•Atlanta, GA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Development & Commercialization Associate role is an individual contributor position responsible for bill of material entry and development sample tracking for one or more business units or categories. This role typically reports into the Sr Manager or Manager in PDC and is based in our Buckhead office.

Requirements

3 to 5 years industry experience in either Textile and/or Apparel Manufacturing, Sourcing, Merchandising or Product Development
Bachelor’s Degree or a minimum of 4 years of additional industry experience directly related to apparel Sourcing or Product Development
Intermediate understanding of apparel construction and design, fabric qualities, product costing, printing techniques, and merchandising and product development activities
Advanced grammar and communication skills; capable of interpreting and conveying international business concepts
Intermediate skills using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
Strong analytical and project management skills; ability to anticipate and proactively arrive at viable solutions
Demonstrate strong, consistent problem-solving abilities; results driving communication
Ability to lift small parcels weighing up to 30 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Professional conduct and communication with matrix-based organizations and global teams
Ability to assist with special projects such as performing competitor/internal product aesthetics and cost analysis
Identify process improvements, document procedures and drive efficiencies and/or automation

Responsibilities

Daily communication with internal teams (Merchandising, Tech Design, Design, Product Integrity, Operations, etc.) and sourcing partners to lead communication on development and sampling needs, Quality standards and policies/procedures/requirements in a timely manner.
Lead the product development process for a product category, or designated categories, within a Strategic Business Unit/Channel including the development and sampling of all products, trims, art techniques, packaging and fabrications.
Attend sample review sessions to note design changes, identify development, cost or quality concerns, and ensure revisions are clearly communicated to appropriate partners through clear communication and/or enterprise technology systems (e.g., PLM).
Support cross functional teams to order, track and review product development inbound strike-offs and samples within the needed timeframe to keep development, photo shoots and production on schedule; expedite and prioritize to maintain delivery dates as well as support the sourcing teams on providing commercial acceptability guidance when necessary.
Maintain correct and timely Production Bill of Materials (BOMs) to meet the desired Design and Merchandising product aesthetics based on details and changes provided throughout the development lifecycle.
Ability to identify BOM discrepancies & communicate with cross-functional peer accordingly.
Actively engage with PDC colleagues to monitor fabric governance and process alignment.
Develop basic apparel costing insights for designated product categories; partner with Merchandising to understand customer needs, cost and margin goals, and research low-cost execution options to uphold the integrity of the intended design.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Product Development (PD) and Time & Action (T&A/production/Impact Management) calendars; monitor seasonal progress and ensure that deadlines, specific to approvals and fabric commitments, are met and partner with appropriate teams to expedite as needed.
Ability to anticipate potential customer needs (consumer, sales, merchandising, and design) and influence the decision-making process