Associate Manager, Product Development

Rent the Runway
Brooklyn +1 more
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates with retail math and product development experience comfortable with cross-functional collaboration and managing design processes from concept to warehouse.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 3-4 years of product development experience and a background in retail math
    — “Minimum 3-4 years product development skills experience”
  • Individuals who thrive in cross-functional teams and can manage end-to-end design processes
    — “Partner with planning, data analytics and designers to own the development lifecycle from end to end”

Things to consider

  • Requires attention to detail and ability to manage product-related issues independently
    — “Manage any product related issues (e.g., sample delivery timing, style execution, costing)”
  • Candidates should be prepared to work in a high-growth environment with a fast-paced rhythm
    — “Self-starter with team-player attitude who takes ownership and initiative and can excel in a fast-paced, high growth environment”

How to stand out

  • Demonstrate your ability to interpret data and use it to influence product decisions
    — “Demonstrates mastery of systems to efficiently find and interpret data essential to making sound business decisions”
  • Showcase your proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and familiarity with PLM systems
    — “Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint) and Google Suite. PLM experience is a plus.”
  • Emphasize your ability to anticipate and adapt to business and customer trends
    — “Maintains a keen awareness of the changing internal/external business environment”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Successfully managed the development lifecycle for exclusive designs
  • Negotiated garment costs with suppliers to hit internal targets
Typical background
3-4 years of product development experienceStrong retail math and financial skills

Skills & requirements

Required

Product DevelopmentDesign CollaborationCost AnalysisVendor ManagementProduct Lifecycle ManagementData-driven Decision MakingCross-functional CollaborationProduct Quality AssuranceProduct Launch CoordinationFinancial AnalysisRetail MathOTB UnderstandingCommunication

Preferred

Sustainability InitiativesSupply Chain Challenges

Stack & domain

Product DevelopmentRetail MathFinancial AnalysisData InterpretationSystems MasteryCommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkLeadershipFashionSustainabilityCircular Fashion

About the role

Original posting from Rent the Runway via Greenhouse

About Us:

Rent the Runway (RTR)  is transforming the way we get dressed by pioneering the world’s first Closet in the Cloud. Founded in 2009, RTR has disrupted the $2.4 trillion fashion industry by inspiring women with a more joyful, sustainable and financially-savvy way to feel their best every day. As the ultimate destination for circular fashion, the brand now offers infinite points of access to its shared closet via a fully customizable subscription to fashion, one-time rental or ownership. RTR offers designer apparel and accessories from 700+ brand partners and has built in-house proprietary technology and a one-of-a-kind reverse logistics operation. RTR has been named to CNBC’s “Disruptor 50” five times in ten years, and has been placed on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list multiple times.

About the Job:

Rent the Runway is looking for an Associate Manager, Product Development for Exclusive Designs who can independently manage the design process from concept to warehouse for a tranche of brands while also assisting in other areas of the product development office.  As the Associate, you will leverage our data to partner with designers to create assortments that satisfy customer demand and manage the production process  with our manufacturers.  This is a developmental position that prepares you for a Product Development Manager role.

What You’ll Do:

Partner with planning, data analytics and designers to own the development lifecycle from end to end for area of responsibility to build successful designer/tastemaker collaborations

Collaborate with vendors to ensure all styles are sourced in core fabrications and negotiate garment costs with suppliers to hit our internal targets

Update and own cost style-level analysis and any iterations based on proto iterations until final style is approved

Review execution of all development samples and monitor line development activities throughout the season

Attend all fittings and partner with technical design team & suppliers to ensure we are developing best in class product that leverages our data in decision making

Support Manager with materials for style out & designer product reviews.

Manage any product related issues (e.g., sample delivery timing, style execution, costing)

Communicate all PA / PO information to Product Assistant and manage accuracy and completeness of PO entry and tracking

Ensure PLM is updated throughout the season by Product Assistant

Maintains a keen awareness of the changing internal/external business environment (emerging fashion trends, customer trends, supply chain challenges, sustainability initiatives) and anticipate how these changes impact the business; pro-actively develops course of action to address

Demonstrates mastery of systems to efficiently find and interpret data essential to making sound business decisions and uses strategic thinking and analysis to drive new ideas and results

Independently takes the initiative to explore, implement new opportunities and processes

Acts as a go-to person on the team and is a resource for Assistant, Product Development

Work closely with cross-functional partners in Planning, Creative, Marketing, Operations and Site Merchandising to drive business decisions and successful brand launches.

About You:

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum 3-4 years product development skills experience

Very strong retail math skills and strong understanding of financials (OTB)

Practice open and continuous communication, values keeping others informed, effective at presenting information in a clear and concise manner

Excellent leadership, facilitation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cross functionally and externally at many levels

Analytical skills.  Ability to think creatively, strategically and technically

Self-starter with team-player attitude who takes ownership and initiative and can excel in a fast-paced, high growth environment

Ability to lead by example with a high standard of professionalism and positive attitude

Collaborative, enthusiastic and research minded; ability to use feedback from others in a constructive way

Results and deadline-oriented with a strong sense of follow through 

Must have strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint) and Google Suite. PLM experience is a plus. Open to learning new systems.

Benefits:

At Rent the Runway, we’re committed to the wellbeing of our employees, and aim to create a workplace that fosters both personal and professional growth. Our inclusive benefits include, but are not limited to:

Paid Time Off including vacation, paid bereavement, and family sick leave - every employee needs time to take care of themselves and their family.

Universal Paid Parental Leave for both parents + flexible return to work program  - because we know your newest family member(s) deserve your undivided attention.

Paid Sabbatical after 5 years of continuous service - Unplug, recharge, and have some fun!

Exclusive employee subscription and rental discounts -  to ensure you experience the magic of renting the runway (and give us valued feedback!).

Comprehensive health, vision, dental, FSA and dependent care from day 1 of employment - Your health comes first and we’ve got you covered.

401k match - an investment in your future.

Company wide events and outings - our team spirit is no joke - we know how to have fun!

Office centric work - our corporate employees and technical leaders have the option to work remotely on Fridays, in accordance with Company policies.

Rent the Runway is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

_________

The anticipated base salary for this position is Total Base Pay Range $64,400 - $80,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held. This position is also eligible for equity compensation.

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Source: Rent the Runway careers (Greenhouse)

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