Product Development and Sourcing Manager

At Strand, our mission is to create the world’s most loved destination for the perfect bag. We are on a journey to continuously grow our brand and to celebrate life’s journeys and adventure’s, big and small. We’re all going somewhere and whoever you are, whatever your destination, we’re here to take you places.

Strandbags has been a leading retailer of luggage, handbags and backpacks since 1927. With almost 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand and an amazing range of leading brand and own-brand bags, we have the best selection, experience and expertise to suit everyone’s needs.

We are looking for an experienced **Product Development & Sourcing Manager** to join our team. In this role you will be responsible for all product development and management of implementation from design to manufacture, taking full accountability for delivery and results of all ranges within the designated product area. This role requires specific expertise within the travel and luggage industry, with a high level of experience working with suitcases and other luggage bags.

**Key responsibilities will include;**
- Own the end to end development of product from design concept to production
- Manage complete development of product from design to shipment liaising with design team, sourcing team, and directly with factories
- Development of new product lines in accordance with brand strategy
- Work closely with senior management on long-term planning for product and sales
- Design and implement pricing, promotion and supply arrangements with suppliers
- Frequent travel and time spent in offshore factories to follow product development and manufacture progress
- Understand material specifications and negotiate FOB and price costings
- Make submission comments on all fabric, lab dips and print submissions that come in and revert comments to factories
- Lead product development, critical path and any associated project management, establishing working plans according to seasonal and budgetary requirements
- Measure, check and track all samples throughout the lifecycle of the product ensuring all specifications are adhered to making end to end development seamless
- Manage the technical design process acting as interface between design and manufacturing
- Review and examine all product specifications, cost breakdowns and tool plans
- Manage finished goods and component suppliers and negotiate purchase, promotion and supply arrangement with all suppliers
- Develop product to required quality that fulfills legal and International regulations
- Coordinate with factories to define quality and ensure test standards are met
- Achieve, manage and communicate product timelines
- Work to agreed critical paths ensuring all dates are met to ensure on time delivery
- Understand and manage the manufacturing process and all communication
- Manage all Point of sale material required for product
- Manage ordering process and shipment of goods
- Study trade, manufacturing and market information to keep informed of changing market conditions, in order to identify and implement global trends within local and international markets
- Research and maintain expert knowledge on product, including innovation and development procedures, anticipating consumer trends and determining quantity, style and quality of products to be developed
- Lead, manage and coordinate team to ensure all tasks are undertaken effectively and efficiently
- Take ownership of the performance, development and wellbeing of the team, including training of more junior team members

**About you;**
- At least 15 years’ experience of product development within the travel industry including design, sourcing and manufacture of suitcases and other luggage bags in particular
- Extensive knowledge in suitcase manufacture processing such as injection moulding and tooling engineering
- Extensive knowledge in suitcase material sourcing such as plastics, particularly PC and PP, as well as metals such as Aluminium
- Extensive knowledge in leather sourcing, manufacture and design for travel bags
- Knowledge of patent procedures and IP protection for Travelgoods at designer level
- Highly developed product development skills with ability to interpret trends to suit target customer and to develop product directly with supplier with target costs/margins
- High level of experience working with suppliers and factories internationally
- Highly detailed with high level of accuracy and well organised
- Results and goal oriented
- Passion for travel products - commercially aware with a gut feel for fashion and market trends
- Strong Business acumen
- Strong analytical and numerical skills
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
- Competent with systems and programs such as Microsoft Excel and quick to learn
- Strong understanding and ability for market research
- Exceptional negotiation skills
- Proven ability to achieve tight deadlines
- Excellent problem solving