Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn teen, pottery barn kids, Rejuvenation, Mark & Graham, west elm, or Outward. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.

West Elm - Who we are 

Born in Brooklyn. At home in the world. west elm has been helping customers express their personal style at home since the launch of our first catalog in 2002. Our home base is nestled down under the Manhattan Bridge in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, right above our flagship store. We are a dynamic, fast-paced brand with an exciting growth strategy. We value imagination, diversity and giving people the opportunity to explore, grow and shape our future. We look for innovative, smart, and hard-working individuals who enjoy creative thinking and ingenuity. Help us carry out our mission of being a source of inspiration to our customers, creating a global community and tirelessly seeking ways to evolve our brand

About the Team

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. 

About the Role 

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

3-6 years Product Development and management experience, home goods preferred PLM experience preferred, but not required Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Office, particularly Excel International Travel Required 4+ years college education (BA/BS) This role requires being onsite in the Dumbo Brooklyn office 

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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:

 

Benefits

A generous discount on all WSI brands A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits Tax-free commuter benefits A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

 

Continued Learning

In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities  Resources for self-development Advisor (Mentor) program Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series   

 

 

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

 

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

 

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.