Product Specialist

My-client-is-looking-to-recruit-a-Product-Specialist/Category-Manager/Buyer-for-their-team-that-is-continuously-growing.-The-role-of-a-Product-Specialist-is-for-a-curious-and-enthusiastic-product-lover,-responsible-for-developing-best-in-class-product-ranges,-maximising-value-for-money-and-driving-innovation-in-the-marketplace.-With-a-keen-eye-for-detail-and-a-passion-for-continuous-improvement,-consistently-delivering-exceptional-products-that-meet-and-exceed-customer-expectations.

Key-Responsibilities

Overall-product-development-working-in-a-four-point-approach-to-product

1. Seasonal-ranges-by-brand

• Overall-ownership-of-key-categories-/-brands-becoming-an-expert-in-your-space.
• Curating-product-ranges-by-season-touching-all-applicable-price-points-and-formats.

1. Trend-led-product

• Being-an-expert-in-your-space,-identifying-trends-or-trending-products.
• Responsible-for-reacting-to-trends,-working-with-factories-and-internal-teams-to-be-first-to-market.

1. Customer-specific-product-

• Responsible-for-reacting-to-customer-specific-briefs-set-by-sales.
• Sourcing,-costing-and-sampling-adhering-to-short-deadlines-whilst-delivering-best-cost-and-quality-product.

1. Everyday-365-product

• Applying-an-adaptable-approach-to-continuous-development-on-everyday-core-skus.

Product-sourcing-/-supplier-management

• Identifying-key-suppliers-and-suitable-factories-understanding-the-appropriate-sourcing-route-and-preferred-supplier-for-product.
• Establishing-and-maintaining-good-relationships-with-existing-and-potential-new-suppliers.
• Completion-of-new-factory-profile-forms-and-ensuring-all-new-factories-are-approved-by-QA.
• Negotiation-of-trading-terms.
• Cost-negotiation-and-completion-of-costing-sheets-ensuring-margin-is-in-line-with-company-expectations.
• Ensure-products-costs-are-in-line-with-material-costs-with-the-support-of-the-head-of-PD.
• Responsible-for-samples-across-all-lines-negotiating-samples-with-factories-minimising-costs-to-the-business.
• International-travel-as-and-when-required-to-visit-supplier''s-showroom-/-factories.
• Attending-trade-shows-to-meet-with-suppliers-to-manage-relationships-and-to-source-new-suppliers.
• Regular-video-calls-to-maintain-and-strengthen-supplier-relationships.
• Sourcing-of-new-trends,-hot-products.
• Creating-product-briefs-for-suppliers-and-factories,-working-with-design-and-QA-to-ensure-we-are-up-to-date-with-standards-for-products-and-factories.
• Manage-the-performance-of-suppliers,-with-support-from-the-head-of-PD-dealing-with-issues-quickly-and-effectively-ensuring-minimal-impact-to-the-business.
• Working-with-the-sales-team-on-reactive-briefs-for-the-customers,-ensuring-the-appropriate-sourcing-route-is-utilised.

Critical-path-management-

• Ownership-of-the-product-Development-Critical-Path-Management.
• Ensuring-product-critical-paths-and-weekly-workloads-are-on-track-to-achieve-deadlines-from-concept-to-pre-production-with-design-and-factories.
• Ensuring-deadlines-are-adhered-to-and-follow-up-on-all-sample-issues-to-resolve-and-drive-to-completion.
• Identifying,-calling-out-and-making-recommendations-to-mitigate-any-risks/challenges-identified-at-all-stages.
• Monitoring-order-Critical-Path-with-Merch-to-ensure-intake-dates-are-met.

Only-relevant-candidates-will-be-contacted.