Coordinator, Product Development

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles. 

Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.

A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive. Visit Our People page to learn more about Tapestry's commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Primary Purpose:

Supports the development process, including sample management, to achieve design aesthetic, quality standards, margin goals, and timelines.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Development and sample management

• Creates, manages, and maintains all development activities using various tools, including ecVision sample modules, material modules, development logs, material and hardware matrices, design cards, and functionality charts.
• Partners with the Materials Management teams to initiate lab dips and procure sampling materials for all development milestones.
• Partners with the NY Workshop on early development sampling.
• Sends development packages to overseas partners and sample facilities.
• Reviews prototype samples, focusing on product execution, consistency of details, and Design's aesthetic intent.
• Attends Design Review Meetings (DRMs) with their Manager and Team Lead.
• Manages approval of proto samples within Product Development Timeline (PDT) deadlines.
• Supports material approvals and the resolution of DNPs and TBDs to meet matrix validation deadlines.
• Manages zipper, thread, and edgestain direction and approvals.
• Supports the initiation and management of PBVRs and PRNs.
• Enters, maintains, and manages information required for Tools of the Trade.

Cross-functional partnership

• Acts as a knowledge-sharing hub for information and owns communication about development with cross-functional partners (PD, Design, Merchandising, Materials, Production, NY Workshop, and overseas teams).
• Builds relationships with internal and external partners that encourage synergy and collaboration.
• Partners with IS and business partners to suggest improvements and efficiencies within our systems.

Costing

• Manages development costs, final costs, and monthly PO costs in ecVision and SAP.
• Reviews cost sheets and validates cost components and factory charges against the necessary tools (matrices and samples).
• Updates and maintains accurate costs in all internal costing tools based on product updates and costing milestones.
• Ensures yields are confirmed to support the costing process and RMRP.

The accomplished individual will possess...

• 1+ years of experience in handbag or accessories product development. An equivalent combination of work experience and education will be considered.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• A strong sense of teamwork and the ability to multitask.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

An outstanding professional will have...

• The ability to interact with others and resolve conflict across various levels of the organization.
• The ability to perform efficiently in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.

Our Competencies for All Employees

Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
Creativity: Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
Learning on the Fly: Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.
 
Our Competencies for All People Managers
Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
Developing Direct Reports and Others: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
Building Effective Teams: Blends people into teams when needed; creates strong morale and spirit in their team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging in the team.                                                                                                    
 

Kate Spade. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people. All employment decisions (including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline and termination) are based on the applicant’s or employee’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Tapestry, Inc. will provide applicants and employees with reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact Tapestry People Services at 1-855-566-9264.

Visit Tapestry, Inc.

Base Pay Range

$66,300.00-$80,000.00

Here are some of the benefits that we offer: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401 (K), Paid Paternity and Maternity leave, Commuter Benefits, Disability insurance and Tuition assistance. Please click here for a complete list of U.S Corporate Compensation & Benefits.