Product Development Manager Confidential East Providence, RI Job Details Full-time 1 hour ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Vendor relationship building Google Sheets Project management experience in manufacturing Attention to detail Calendar management Scrum Organizational skills Managing projects Materials management Manufacturing company experience Full Job Description Product Development Manager Fashion Jewelry Reports to: EVP /

Head of Product & Operations Department:

Product Development Company:

Fashion Jewelry Position Summary We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented individual to manage our Product Development department. The Product Development Manager is responsible for driving fashion jewelry products from initial concept through final production approval. This role serves as the critical bridge between Design, CAD, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Quality, Production, and Sales , ensuring products are developed on time, meet quality and cost expectations, and are ready for successful production and launch. The ideal candidate must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities change quickly. The Product Development Manager is expected to own the development calendar, anticipate problems before they happen, and keep every product moving forward. Key Responsibilities 1. Product Development Ownership Manage the complete product development process from concept through production. Establish and maintain development timelines and key milestones. Track every style through each stage of development. Proactively identify delays, risks, missing information, and decisions needed. Make sure development does not stall waiting for someone else to follow up. Coordinate priorities across multiple collections, customers, and deadlines. Maintain accurate product development status reports.

Development stages include:

Concept → Design Brief → CAD → Prototype → Sample → Testing → Costing → Customer Approval → Production Approval → PO → Production 2. Design & CAD Coordination Work closely with designers to translate concepts into manufactured jewelry. Review design briefs before CAD begins to ensure specifications are clear. Coordinate with 2D/3D CAD designers and outside resources. Review CADs for manufacturability, construction, dimensions, stone placement, findings, finishes, and functionality. Identify potential production issues early. Coordinate CAD revisions and approvals. Ensure approved CAD files are properly documented and controlled. 3. Sampling & Prototype Management Manage all prototypes and samples from initial development through final approval. Track sample requests, expected completion dates, receipt dates, and approvals. Review samples against the original design brief and specifications. Coordinate revisions when samples do not meet expectations. Ensure comments are documented clearly and communicated to the appropriate resource. Prevent unnecessary sample rounds by identifying issues early. 4. Materials, Components & Vendor Coordination Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to source required materials and components. Coordinate availability of stones, findings, chains, clasps, plating, finishes, packaging components, and other materials. Maintain visibility to material lead times. Identify potential shortages or sourcing issues before they affect development or production. Develop strong working relationships with domestic and overseas vendors. 5. Costing & Margin Coordinate product costing throughout development. Obtain and maintain accurate costs for materials, labor, plating, stones, components, packaging, and outside services. Work with suppliers and production to identify opportunities to reduce cost without compromising design or quality. Flag products that do not meet established margin targets. Communicate costing changes immediately. Ensure final approved costs are documented before production. 6. Testing & Quality Coordinate required product testing throughout development. Track testing submissions, results, failures, and corrective actions. Ensure products meet customer, company, regulatory, and material requirements. Partner with Quality and Production to identify recurring quality issues. Make sure products are not released to production without required approvals. The Product Development Manager must own a clean handoff from development into production, act as the central communication point between all departments, own the master product development calendar, establish standardized development procedures and checklists, and work to continuously improve the Company's product development process. Ideal Candidate Required 5+ years of product development experience, preferably in fashion jewelry, accessories, apparel, footwear, or another highly detailed product category. Strong understanding of product development and manufacturing. Excellent project management and organizational skills. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Strong follow-up and communication skills. Excellent attention to detail. Ability to understand technical specifications and manufacturing requirements. Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills. Comfortable working with deadlines and changing priorities. Preferred Fashion jewelry manufacturing experience. Knowledge of casting, stamping, forming, plating, assembly, stone setting, chains, findings, and other jewelry manufacturing processes. Experience working with CAD. Experience with product testing and compliance. Experience with domestic and overseas manufacturing. Experience with ERP/PIM/product lifecycle management systems. Scrum/project management experience or certification.

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Retirement plan

Work Location:

In person