Freelance Product Developer

About the Company:

Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world’s leading designer lifestyle brands, internationally recognized for celebrating the essence of “classic American cool” style. Founded in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger delivers premium styling, quality and value to consumers worldwide with a breadth of collections including Hilfiger Collection, Tommy Hilfiger Tailored, men’s, women’s and kids’ sportswear, Tommy Jeans, Accessories, and Footwear. Tommy Hilfiger, which was acquired by PVH Corp. in 2010, has more than 17,000 associates worldwide and an extensive distribution network in over 115 countries and over 1,600 retail stores.

Position Description and responsibilities:

The role of the Product Developer is to manage the Product Development process within the different product lines for the Tommy Hilfiger Accessories business on a daily base from creative concept into pre-production stage with Design and Product Development located in Amsterdam and China. S/he manages and drives the development and pre-production process with all relevant parties involved (Design, Merchandising, Sales, Product Development), in order to achieve commercial product execution, align with corporate goals, the calendar and financial key performance. With an extensive knowledge of the entire product development process, as well as technical construction and execution on the product, costing and vendor relations, the Product Developer is the key supporting figure and link throughout the entire development process from SRF (sketch request form) into SMS (Salesmen Samples) with everyone involved.

Job Functions

• Liaise with Design for initial sourcing initiatives (e.g. sourcing trips) during Global Creative Research, with the objective to foster innovation and to ensure competitive price points

• Collaborate with textile agents and mills to identify new fabric and trim- trends and ensure mills are briefed on new development requests

• Advise Design during development process regarding cost implications and provide call-outs regarding quality risks to the product

• Responsible for product management throughout the development process, by attending key meetings (e.g. raw materials meeting, proto review, final price meeting, SMS review), and advising on possible improvements of product and margins, and signing off (pre-production) samples

• Collaborate with merchandising to set target FOB prices with the objective to achieve margins

• Negotiate FOB prices with Direct Vendors and Buying Office throughout the development and production process, ensuring margins are maintained for actual order quantities

• Review and monitor bulk orders with Buying & Planning to ensure timeliness of style bookings for bulk delivery and advise on pre-booking of raw materials

• Send vendor requests for protos and SMS to vendors, elaborate on requests during handover (on site) using technical packs, sketches, and measurement charts, assist / monitor vendors during production, and manage escalation of issues during (bulk) production

• Responsible for production process follow up by tracking WIP chart, and act on any production issue with the objective to ensure quality and timeliness of the product, and inform buying & planning on reasons of delay where necessary

• Involved in risk assessment and assignment of care labels, collaborating with Central Quality Assurance regarding any quality issues

• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data in PLM (e.g. BOM, prices), by continuously updating the system

• Provide analyses and reporting on KPIs related to product development (e.g. margins, vendor performance, season evaluation)

Requirements:

• Education: higher education in textile education

• 1 - 2 years working experience in product development

• International experience

• Good organization skills: priority setting, deliver reports (under pressure)

• Strong analytical skills, eye for detail

• Self-driven, pragmatic and business mind set

• Good communication skills: team player, interdepartmental collaboration, stakeholder management

• Business fluency in English (written & verbal)

• Possesses a work permit for the European Community

Conditions:

• Full-time employment - working hours 9.00AM till 6.00PM

• Salary: Negotiable - depending on age and experience

• Travel is required

We offer:

• Work in a fast paced international business environment in the fashion industry

• Work as a business partner between controlling and accounting

• Direct interaction with other departments such as the Controlling teams, our accounting Shared Service Center, Internal Control, Treasury and Tax Accounting departments