Director, Product Development and Merchandising
Diamond Foundry
Product, Sales & Business Development
New York, NY, USA
Posted on Aug 3, 2024
The Director of Product Development and Merchandising will lead the product strategy and lifecycle from initial concept to market launch, ensuring alignment with brand standards and business objectives. This role requires a deep understanding of fine jewelry development, strong collaboration across teams, and a commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in both product development and merchandising, with the ability to drive innovation and optimize product assortments.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement an elevated product and assortment strategy, benchmarking against top jewelry brands and aligning with market trends, inventory, and company goals.
- Manage the entire product development process, from CAD design and prototyping to final sample approval, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with development calendars.
- Act as the central communication hub between design, merchandising, and production teams, ensuring seamless execution of product concepts and launches.
- Conduct competitive and consumer demand analysis to inform product forecasts, pricing strategies, and roadmap development, ensuring the brand’s competitive edge.
- Present data-driven insights and strategies to executive leadership, while training internal teams and partners to ensure cohesive and successful product launches.
Requirements
- A minimum of +10 years of hands-on experience in product development within the fine jewelry industry, including familiarity with made-to-order and drop-ship business models.
- Demonstrated ability to creatively and strategically lead projects from concept to production successfully, with a portfolio showcasing successful fine jewelry launches.
- Extensive knowledge of category mgt, jewelry design, gemology and materials.
- Exceptional leadership skills, with a passion for mentoring teams and fostering collaboration across departments.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of effectively liaising with designers, merchandisers, suppliers, and craftsmen.
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