Senior Product Development Manager - Jewellery

Job Title: Senior Product Development Manager - Jewellery

Location: Remote & Holkham, North Norfolk

Reporting To: Design Director

Who we are

At Monica Vinader, we’re on a mission to prove that buying better, wearing longer and doing better don’t have to be mutually exclusive. From our commitment to making the most sustainable jewellery we can using precious materials, to the timeless style and endless versatility of our pieces, we are driven to making everyday fine jewellery accessible and affordable.

And don’t just take our word for it, we are proud to be recognised in the industry through recent awards:

●        Ethical Jewellery Business of the Year 2021, Retail Jeweller

●        Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development 2022

●        Responsible Luxury Business of the Year 2023 & 2022, Positive Luxury

●        Best Sustainable Luxury Jewellery Brand 2022, Marie Claire UK

We are digital first, omni-channel, customer obsessed, female led and inclusive, focused on creating meaningful relationships with our community, who we owe our success to. We are looking for someone special to join our team to help us make luxury something we can all enjoy everyday.

Where we need your help

We have all the makings of an iconic brand - beautiful products that are timeless and designed to last, service that exceeds our customer's expectations, a passionate founder that cares deeply about doing what is right, and a loyal and growing community that advocates for us.

The Product Development Manager role is an exciting opportunity to help support the delivery of an ambitious product pipeline, where you will bring ideas to life. You will work closely with the New Product Development (NPD) team to deliver beautiful, sustainable, quality products, on time and at a competitive price. You will champion the customer at every point of the product journey; with senior thinking, pace, passion and team spirit.

Your role will span the development across categories, materials and suppliers. From our famed Vermeil to fine 14k solid gold jewellery, semi-precious gemstones, pearls and Lab Grown Diamonds, leather and packaging. No one day will be the same.

This role has a requirement to travel to Norfolk 2-3 days per week, to work with the team at our picturesque Holkham office and remote working for part of the week.

What you’ll do

Development

○        From approving supplier CADs to signing off your final sealed sample, you will work collaboratively with our partner suppliers and NPD team, to develop products quickly and with accuracy.

○        Working tightly to a critical path, you will be working cross-functionally with commercial and supplier teams to launch your product at the right time, at the right cost, and with the best quality, aesthetic, and comfort.

○        You will brief collections to suppliers, through clear verbal, written & visual presentations; driving simplicity over complexity and identify and preventing risk upfront

○        You will need to be able to draw to scale in Illustrator and amend design sheets. Proposing technical details (including stone setting and hinge/clasps) and sharing knowledge on construction methods and expected quality standards, whilst collaborating with suppliers to get the optimum cost

○        You will be responsible for your product from end to end; ensuring the creation of SKUs and product names based on agreed on naming conventions and SEO guidance, and that POs are raised and tracked to ensure we can meet our timeline. Coordination transfer of your product to different warehouses for various uses e.g  photography

○        Communicate effectively with suppliers on a daily basis via email, calls, and WhatsApp, to track development progress & unblock obstacles.

○        You will build strong relationships with our partner suppliers and escalate large issues effectively to the Senior Team members

○        Confidently and clearly present your sample development within weekly design & ranging meetings, proposing solutions to problems and driving actions and clarity on the next steps

○        Use the weekly Critical Path meeting to help unblock issues, and identify potential delays or obstructions to delivery milestones, identifying areas where team collaboration required to unblock

○        Part of your Product Development role will be responsible for resourcing products within our supplier strategy. Working very closely with NPD Commercial you will manage a ‘light touch’ development within concise timelines.

○        You will execute in the role using senior thinking in your delivery, and to ensure the workings of the team and your own actions are optimised for success and delivery

Other

○        Work collaboratively with the NPD team to maintain accurate detail and timely issue of the quarterly newness presentation, alongside the delivery of samples for quarterly Trade meetings

○        Responsible for coordinating personalisation trials on new product

○        Manage the design studio space, in parallel with the rest of the team, to keep it an inspirational space but also fully functional and working in the best shape for the full team to maximise its benefit.

○        Contribute to and support specific commercial and quality based projects as and when relevant e.g market research and sourcing opportunities taking customer eye view to define improvements and propose ways to make them simple

○        Your role will require ad-hoc travel to our international supply base, in order to push through development, where you will be an ambassador for the brand, as well as fulfilling your specific agenda

What you’ll bring

●         Proven experience from a fast paced jewellery background

●         Passion to deliver great customer experiences and think with a customer-first mindset

●         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

●         A team player with the ability to develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships

●         A problem solver, with common sense, who is calm under pressure

●         A curious learner with the confidence to ask questions and work from lose briefs with flexibility

●         A self-starter, ability to work autonomously and self-directed

●         Adept at managing multiple priorities in parallel with pace

●         Able to keep things clear and simple

●         You're resilient and relentless with a focus on achieving your goals

●         Attention to detail

●         The ability to project manage using critical path tracking from concept to project delivery

To be successful at Monica Vinader...

●        You are a doer

●        You’re a team player

●        You’re humble

●        You are honest, straightforward, and transparent

●        You are a good teacher/mentor (approachable and accessible)

●        You want to get your hands dirty

●        You solve problems

●        You are resilient

●        You are flexible

●        You are entrepreneurial, smart, and passionate

●        If you don't know something, you say so. Then go figure it out quickly

●        You love working in a creative environment

●        You have a sense of humour

●        You are an insatiable learner

Additional Requirements

-          Ability to document your authorisation to work in the United Kingdom.

Travel Requirements

Travel between London and Holkham office will be required

Ad-hoc overseas travel (approx. twice per year)

Full UK driving licence required

Our Aims and Values

Our mission is to be the leading accessible luxury brand, by delivering outstanding quality, design and customer service. We are:

Customer Obsessed

Our customers are at the core of everything we do. We will always deliver an outstanding and personal experience to them every time they interact with us, to ensure their ongoing support and loyalty.

Caring

We treat people with respect, as we would want to be treated. We are apolitical and assume good intentions in others. We are open and honest with each other while ensuring we take an empathetic and supportive approach.

Fast Paced

We are passionate about what we do, and we want to reach as many customers as fast as we can. We combine focus with pragmatism and flexibility so that we can move at pace in whichever direction we need to take.

Exceptional

We have a relentless desire to continually learn and improve to ensure our products and approach are exceptional. Our tenacity, high standards and attention to detail give us a competitive advantage.

Commercial

We focus hard on facts and approach things in a logical, rational and analytical way. We challenge each other to make sure we make decisions and take actions that create value for our business and our customers.

Monica Vinader as a global business makes the following inclusive culture pledge:
Our jewellery is for everyone and so is our community. Together, we will continue to implement sustainable changes to ensure that career opportunities and progression are open to all. We commit to celebrating the diverse voices of our employees, partners, and the customers we serve.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties to be performed by the employee. This job description may be altered to reflect the business needs of the company.