Sourcing Manager, Furniture - West Elm

Manager of Product Development

The product development team drives execution of the product development process to successfully deliver West Elm products on time, which meet the design, quality and value mission.

As a Manager of Product Development, you will own the product through the development lifecycle up to order placement. You will lead communication with vendors and overseas offices, in addition to driving timeline adherence and cross-functional alignment. You will provide guidance to PD Associates and Product Management team. You are team oriented, passionate about product, detail oriented, thorough, and committed to seeing a project through on time. You multi-task efficiently and effectively while being flexible to accommodate the changing needs of the business. You have a strong understanding of retail math, product performance requirements, materials and production processes. You will build strong cross functional relationships by approaching all interactions with a service mindset. You are an independent and self-motivated person that acts as an owner and excels in a fast paced, dynamic work environment. You are a skilled communicator with experience in solving complex problems through communication with both domestic and international partners.

Responsibilities

• PD Process Ownership- Owns delivering products within parameters set by design, engineering and merchandising. Drives cross functional alignment on development goals. Leads seasonal PD kickoff meetings. Owns weekly PD meetings for assigned categories. Updates development tracker. Communicates accurate details relating to sampling, costing and product details to all cross functional partners and vendors / agents. Tracks and approves all tooling fees.
• Timeline Management -Drives adherence to all timing goals : spec out, sample due dates, product approval, final cost pass off, validation and PO placement. Leads the communication on sample requests, follow up and troubleshooting timelines. Builds chase T&As as needed.
• Costing- Identifies opportunities for cost engineering and implements in development. Negotiates newness costing based on merchandising parameters.
• Vendor Development develops deep understanding of vendor capabilities and leverages knowledge to lead the team to develop best possible product within vendor limitations.
• Material Research and Development- Maintains materials library and supports senior manager in material and technique pre-development.
• Sample + Product Management- Responsible for the day-to-day organization of workrooms, and archives where applicable, with support from assistant. Partners with design to coordinate and set up samples for milestone meetings.
• Leadership-Provides guidance and mentorship to PD Associates and Assistants. Instills best practices across team. Establishes strong cross functional relationships

Criteria

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available :

Continued Learning

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $95,000 - $110,000. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.