Product Management Manager, Polo Boy's Knits

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

As part of the Product Management team, you will manage the Product Development and Production (full product lifecycle) for the knits category within the Polo brand for Kid’s. You will partner with the Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, and Raw Materials Teams, as well as Sourcing Offices, Factories & Mills to ensure the integrity of product from salesman sample to bulk production.

The Product Management Manager will support the development and execution of the product strategy for the brand to create the best overall value in terms of product, price, lead-time, and quality.

Participate in Board Review with Design and Merchandising to establish product pipeline, risk assessment, and TDtrack (high/medium/low touch)

• Participate in Hand Offs with Product Design. Follow up with Design as needed to receive all information necessary to build a Tech Pack within calendar milestones.
• Work on BOM set up and maintenance in PLM. Create initial BOM based on design Hand Off. Update BOM for showroom samples (post-proto approval) through stock approval/OK to buy/production ready.
• Lead meetings with regional sourcing offices to handoff seasonal line sheets and walk through overall product execution expectations and sample timing.
• Lead weekly WIP meeting and attend weekly fit meetings.
• Track & monitor requests with sourcing offices for trim/artwork/wash submits, lab dips, etc. Work with sourcing offices to develop counter source raw materials and components as needed.
• Partner with Design and PMT lead on all design approvals and comments. Ensure products are meeting designexecution & RL standards/requirements. Ensure all approvals are made to meet sample and production deadlines.
• Track, monitor & unpack showroom samples. Provide weekly sample status updates. Troubleshoot with customs/small parcel teams as needed.
• Review and update all costs from initial to final stages in PLM Cost Extension & ensure accurate data flows to GFE & o9 systems.
• Work with PMT lead to analyze product costing, address costing concerns & opportunities for product engineering.
• Establish pricing options, to optimize the buy and help to achieve margins
• Present product costing, YOY cost comparisons & cost saving options in seasonal cross functional cost meetings.
• Work with sourcing offices to optimize and shorten production lead times. Assist with allocation & capacity planning.
• Work with PMT lead to review Time & Action files and upload buy dates into GFE system. Action weekly buys in GFE & SAP systems and follow through to PO creation with sourcing offices.
• Communicate strategies and align execution plans with Brand, Sourcing offices, Raw Material Team and Product Integrity
• Ensure system data integrity in working towards our corporate goals of BOMs & costing.
• System maintenance and input is required to support all of the above functions in our corporate systems. Run weekly system checks for missing data & data integrity.
  
  

Salary range: $62,500 - $146,000 annually

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Proven expertise and experience in product development and production; full product life cycle, from design vision to production ready utilizing technical product knowledge and in-depth understanding of all product components (fabric, trim, print, etc.)
  
  

Experience in knits is a plus.

• Be a subject matter expert (SME) in a specific product category (i.e. denim, sweaters, outerwear, footwear, accessories – includes experience in product development, product engineering and production))
• Proven ability to optimize production outcomes through understanding the garment manufacturing process, factory capabilities & capacity, machinery capability, and liability management. Factory visits, a plus.
• Strong communication, influencing and cross-functional team collaboration skills.
• Solutions oriented approaches to problem solving, and adaptability.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, quickly pivot, and problem solve.
• Strong computer skills is a must - Intermediate to advanced Excel, Outlook, FlexPLM, SAP, GFE+.
• In office minimum 2-3 days/week; more depending on time of season.
• Embodies the CFAs of the RL Brand