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SalaryDescription
The AVP of Product Development is an experienced leader responsible for leading a Product Development team across multiple categories. They partner with leaders of Design, Technical Design, Raw Materials and Production to develop and execute product consistent with Design and Merchant vision and the brand’s global sourcing strategy. The AVP leads the development and execution of products from concept to a pass off to production, with a focus on on-time, quality, products at the right cost, with the required speed and flexibility in support of the brand strategy. This role requires a high level of influence with global cross functional partners, owns the creation and execution of process, seasonal calendar development and influence on Sourcing Strategy. In addition, the AVP of Product Development develops advanced concepts, techniques, standards, and brings solutions to problems of unusual complexity which require a high degree of ingenuity, creativity, and innovation. The AVP exerts influence in the development of overall objectives and long-range goals of the organization. They will also plan and direct projects and supply inspiration, leadership and consultation to peers and their team.
Why You Belong Here
At Victoria’s Secret, we acknowledge your value. We recognize that every associate has something unique to add to our brand and business. We strive to recruit, retain, and advance diverse talent that reflects the customers we serve and the communities where we live and work. We foster a culture where everyone belongs because we know our business thrives most when we look for, listen to, and amplify diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We place the customer at the heart of everything we do. We dream big, embrace curiosity and creativity while always learning from our mistakes. We lead with integrity, trust, and respect to achieve the best outcomes as one team.
Your Impact
- Initiate and influence strategic ideas and decision making that will drive the business forward; this includes interface with Brand Leadership to ensure best results.
- Lead and represent the team and process with brand on driving speed and efficiency through daily work.
- Communicate seasonal development calendar and sample needs to regional offices.
- Ownership of overall brand financial objectives
- Leverage industry knowledge to support Brand strategies
- Recommend action and communicate issues that may hinder our ability to achieve our inventory and financial objectives.
- Support development of seasonal sourcing plan
- Participate in the development of strategic vendor partnerships that support the allocation process to minimize costs, maximize efficiencies, and manage capacity.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment. Set clear goals, provide guidance, mentor team to enhance skills and career growth.
Vendor Engagement
- Capacity planning with vendors to ensure sufficient sample room capacity is reserved.
- Works with vendors on presenting new ideas to brand leadership including planning and organizing regional oversees travel.
- Research new vendor partnerships as needed based on evolving product needs of the business.
PLM System Responsibilities
- Ownership of timing to get system work completed based on calendar deliverables.
- Drive Flex PLM system enhancements & opportunities
- Support speed by reducing dependencies in system input structure.
Costing and Cost Engineering
- Oversee the product costing process, including the negotiation and management of costs with direct reports to meet internal business IMU and AUC goals.
- Engages with Planning & Merchant leaders to understand seasonal cost & IMU targets.
- Stays ahead of the curve on global cost impacts regarding market volatility, global freight rate fluctuations, environmental impacts, etc.
- Ensure costing meets target IMU’s – provide strategic direction to the team on prioritization of cost reduction efforts.
- Support, enforce & drive new cross functional cost reduction initiatives.
Product Solutions
- Identify and influence strategic opportunities to increase speed in development.
- Makes necessary callouts to design leads on where they are landing on development numbers.
- Work with regional leads on no of samples that can be supported during different calendar times and adjust as necessary.
Change Management
- Lead the management of the PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT calendar.
- Challenge and negotiate timing to support the Brand business requirement.
- Owns managing change within a team.
- Drives process improvements impacting speed, efficiency, quality and aesthetics.
Development Ratios
- Work on big picture projects of increased need impact
- Address overdevelopment issues with cross functional leadership for improvement for future seasons
Fittings
- Accountable for timing with cross functional teams based on deliverables and priorities.
- May attend based on product risk and bulk needs.
Collaboration
- Ensure effective communication & alignment between all functions to deliver on KPIs.
- Drive and report on overall Product Readiness with Cross Functional Teams.
Communication
- Collaborate with Design, Merchants & Product Operations counterparts on key deliverables to mitigate risk and meet business goals.
- Manage new vendor global on-boarding in partnership with region.
- Build and maintain effective vendor and regional and cross-functional partnerships.
- Interface with other areas of the business as needed, including Brand Leadership, to ensure proper support and coordination of Product Development issues.
Attend and/or lead Key Meetings, which may include:
- SVL/Concept Meetings
- Line plan Meetings
- Sketch Review
- Proto Review
- Line Review
- Category Review (Financial Review)
- Buy Review
- Development Fittings
- CFT Readiness & Alignment Meetings
- Regional Leader Connects
- Cross Functional Team Meetings
Talent Management
- Hire, coach and develop a quality Product Development team.
- Ensure talent development and alignment across categories and brands.
- Participate in the definition of the team’s role and contributions to support the brand’s evolving growth strategy.
- Manages a team of multiple levels.
- Career Planning
- IDP/PPO Management
- Conduct Quarterly Performance Reviews
- Succession Planning
- Talent Calibration
- Coaching/Feedback
- Cross Functional Mentorship
- Lead AOS Initiatives
- Fosters open OLR feedback and participate actively in OLR sessions.
- Create Onboarding Plans
Minimum Salary : $170,000.00
Maximum Salary : $236,250.00
VS&Co provides an estimated range of compensation for this role as shown. Your actual compensation will be determined by a number of relevant factors, including but not limited to your specific skills, experience, & geographic location.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience
- 12+ years’ experience within sourcing/manufacturing, with 3-5 years within Retail Apparel industry in multiple categories
- Experience working with overseas partners required.
- Global garment production experience, with extensive knowledge and understanding of the supply/vendor base and manufacturing environment.
- Complete understanding of retail business operations and financial metrics
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing at all levels.
- Demonstrate high level decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Proven ability to lead a team.
- Detailed understanding of product cost
- Demonstrate experience in bringing flexibility and read and react capability to production processes.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
- Detail oriented with strong multi-tasking and organizational skills.
- Proven influencing and negotiation skills
- Demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills.
An equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.
