Product Development and Commercialization Associate

Carter's, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children. The Company owns the Carter's and OshKosh B'gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are sold in leading department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers domestically and internationally. They are also sold through more than 1,000 Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and online at www.carters.com, www.oshkosh.com, and www.cartersoshkosh.ca. The Company's Just One You and Genuine Kids brands are available at Target, its Child of Mine brand is available at Walmart, and its Simple Joys brand is available on Amazon. The Company also owns Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children. Carter's is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information may be found at www.carters.com.

40%: Essential Job Functions

• Daily communication with internal teams (Merchandising, Tech Design, Design, Product Integrity, Operations, etc.) and sourcing partners to lead communication on development and sampling needs, Quality standards and policies/procedures/requirements in a timely manner
• Lead the product development process for a product category, or designated categories, within a Strategic Business Unit including the development and sampling of all products, trims, art techniques, packaging and fabrications
• Attend sample review sessions to note design changes, identify development, cost or quality concerns, and ensure revisions are clearly communicated to appropriate partners through clear communication and/or enterprise technology systems (e.g., PLM)
• Support cross functional teams to order, track and review product development inbound strike-offs and samples within the needed timeframe to keep development, photo shoots and production on schedule; expedite and prioritize to maintain delivery dates as well as support the sourcing teams on providing commercial acceptability guidance when necessary

35%: Essential Job Functions

• Maintain correct and timely Production Bill of Materials (BOMs) to meet the desired Design and Merchandising product aesthetics based on details and changes provided throughout the development lifecycle
• Actively engage with PDC colleagues to monitor fabric governance and process alignment
• Oversee any special requirements and sampling needs for specific customers (Costco, Sam's, Wal-Mart, etc.)

25%: Essential Job Functions

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Product Development (PD) and Time & Action (T&A/production/Impact Management) calendars; monitor seasonal progress and ensure that deadlines, specific to approvals and fabric commitments, are met and partner with appropriate teams to expedite as needed
• Develop basic apparel costing insights for designated product categories; partner with Merchandising to understand customer needs, cost and margin goals, and also research low-cost execution options to uphold the integrity of the intended design
• Provide benchmark styles and product cost targets as necessary to the sourcing teams when required

Supervisory/External Communication Responsibility

• Professional conduct and communication with matrix-based organizations and global employees
• Potentially manage one direct report

Secondary Functions (any duties not considered essential)

• Ability to lead special projects such as performing competitor/internal product aesthetics and cost analysis
• Identify process improvements, document procedures and drive efficiencies and/or automation
• Ability to anticipate potential customer needs (consumer, sales, merchandising, and design) and influence the decision making process

• Intermediate understanding of apparel construction and design, fabric qualities, product costing, printing techniques, and merchandising and product development activities
• Advanced grammar and communication skills; capable of interpreting and conveying international business concepts
• Intermediate skills using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Strong analytical and project management skills; ability to anticipate and proactively arrive at viable solutions
• Capable of differentiating between variations of color; ability to pass a color test
• 3 to 5 years industry experience in either Textile and/or Apparel Manufacturing, Sourcing, Merchandising or Product Development
• Bachelor’s Degree or a minimum of 4 years of industry experience directly related to apparel Sourcing or Product Development

Carters is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
Visit https://carters.submit4jobs.com/ today