Senior Product Developer

Responsible for the end-to-end design, development, and sourcing of complex Private Label home merchandise. Accountable for sales/gross margin performance, driven by negotiating cost of internationally sourced merchandise. Create go to market strategy including product financial goals, marketing opportunities, packaging, and assortment. Create technical specification guides for corporate brand product. Manage social compliance regulations in regards to factory execution. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

• Authorize factory change or subcontracting of product development-initiated programs.

• Design translating inspiration and creative ideas into viable, profitable and marketable product.

• For merchant-initiated development programs, attend prototype sessions to final approved samples, confirming domestic imported product aligns with Kroger standard.

• Identify product engineering opportunities to meet initial mark up and speed-to-market goals.

• Align the category design point of view with creative direction from Trend and Product Development Coordinator.

• Establish, maintain and nurture brand point of view through competitive analysis.

• Determine necessary product artwork needs.

• Communicate creative strategies, product concepts, and consumer insights to internal & external audiences.

• Identify marketing and merchandising opportunities consistent with brand guidelines to drive market share and household penetration.

• Execute product details including: construction, color, form, style, detail, graphic application, trim placement, and approve all final production.

• Mange quotation process.

• Manage seasonal development calendars.

• Manage weekly/seasonal development meetings.

• Review corporate brand financial performance assessing profitability on a seasonal /annual basis.

• Serve as liaison between overseas agents, manufactures and the merchandising group communicating aspects of development.

• Communicate and hold manufacturers accountable for social compliance ratings; authorize factory change or subcontracting of product development-initiated programs.

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• BA/BS in business, merchandising or related field

• 4 years of product development experience

• 2 years of fashion buying or planning experience in import driven retail categories demonstrating strong financial performance

• Experience in United States Customs and transportation of product on a global scale

• Experience in consumer product safety commission lab test analysis

• Ability to work weekends on an occasional basis

• Ability to travel internationally and to major domestic markets up to twenty percent annually.

• Ability to organize and prioritize a variety of tasks/projects

• Familiarity with retail industry/technical terms and processes

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

• Masters Degree in interior design/merchandising or related discipline

• 4 years in one of the following development industry categories:
  Textile Design, Production Development, International Sourcing, Creative Direction, Fabric Technology, Pattern Design, Furniture Engineering