Product Development Manager - Jewellery, Collectables & Gifts - $130k PKG

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Product Development Manager - Jewellery, Collectables & Gifts - $130k PKG. Terms and conditions vacancy

The main purpose if this fun and quirky job is to Identify, develop and evaluate new product winners in new and existing affinities for various collectible products such as home décor, coins, plates, figurines, music boxes, jewellery, apparel and more. Research competitive and related industries to develop concepts. Prepare and present new product concepts to senior management including preliminary costs/margin estimates. Manage projects from conception to final product stage. Also, responsible for managing all staff within the Development team, as well as being the key internal and external stakeholder for the department. No egos allowed. The person in the role now has been there for 22 years, which shows you how good this company looks after you.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

50%      Idea, Theme, Concept and Design Development

• Lead new ideas sessions with team members to generate new product series concepts.
• Manage products; manage back ends as appropriate, needed.
• Focus on finding big New Client Acquisition winners in a consistent manner with either new themes or new product forms
• Active participation in weekly product development and follow-up meetings. Develop and present new innovative concepts for approval by senior management.  This includes the concept, competitive and related industries, and company research (prior test/rollout results), mockup/sketches, initial designs, and preliminary costs/margin estimates.

40%      Product Development Management

• Develop strong working relationships with artists, licensors, and overseas and local vendors, to meet business objectives.
• Work with licensing and art acquisition regarding artist selection, portfolios, and contracts.
• Identify, research and seek new licenses, whilst working with US legal to secure.
• Provide detailed and precise written/verbal critiques at various stages throughout the development process. Manage development costs to ensure COGS mark-ups are obtained on all projects.
• Update and manage product development schedules to meet advertising, product, and marketing deadlines and for review with senior management.
• Hire, supervise, train, and develop junior level product development staff. Responsible for performance management, compensation reviews and on-going development feedback.
• Address and manage all departmental HR raised issues and disciplinary required actions.
• Responsible for the management of the department work flow, including allocation of work and monitoring of ongoing progress. Implement corrective action as required to ensure team is managing their workload and time appropriately.
• Ensure that the department is producing the required volume of new products to meet marketing forecast objectives.
• Responsible for the preparation and submission of monthly and annual development results and product plans for global reports and international meetings.

10%      Identify and implement ways to improve cost effective processes to bring product to market - added product enhancements, collateral literature and packaging to increase perceived value, product innovation, and client conversion. Work with design teams, production teams, and outside vendors, and production team to develop final prototypes at the appropriate margin guidelines.

Required Qualifications

Education, Licensing, Certification, and Experience

• Degree in Fine/Studio Arts, Art History, History, Illustration, Product Design, Sculpture or an art related field preferred
• 7-10 years’ experience in product design/development, preferably in the giftware/collectibles industry.
• Direct to consumer experience (catalogue environment) and/or marketing and manufacturing knowledge of the giftware/collectibles industry preferred
• Strong portfolio showing versatility in styles and design. The portfolio should show idea creation and conceptual thought processes. Samples of product design/development is a key factor.
• Demonstrated background of having managed a team of 2+ individuals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Creative background – proven experience in idea generation, theme oriented products.
• Art directing/critiquing: ability to give clear high-level art direction; ability to identify “aesthetically pleasing” products. A strong sense of color, design and composition is essential.
• Analytical skills: must be able to look at their work from the point of view of the consumers. Must be able to accept constructive feedback on designs and concepts change as appropriate.
• Strong leadership skills & management/supervisory skills. The Product Development team is a very close-knit department; the candidate must be totally involved in ongoing success of the team and lead by example as part of the team
• Exposure to working with different types of materials – resins, plastics, glass, metals, fabrics, woods, 3D.
• Ability to manage projects from conception to product stage; ability to manage costs and budgets
• Advanced MAC/PC skills including Word, Excel, and Design Software. Proven experience in the techniques required to compose and design products using Photoshop and Illustrator; basic knowledge and experience in 3D design applications would be an advantage. 
• Marketing and manufacturing knowledge of giftware or collectibles

• Direct marketing/direct to consumer experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent presentation skills
• Ability to work and troubleshoot in an extremely fast paced environment
• Must be organized and be very detail oriented.

If this is YOU or someone you know, please get in touch ASAP as this role is really rare and exciting [email protected] or 02 9211 6457 JOB CODE; 4519