Product Development Specialist

Kendra Scott is a fashion-lifestyle brand focused on inspired design, retail, and philanthropy. The Product Development Specialist leads sample operations, coordinates product development milestones, manages vendor communication, and supports commercialization and seasonal market preparation. The role partners with Design, Merchandising, Production, Wholesale, vendors, and other cross-functional teams to ensure accurate, timely product development.

What you'll do:

• Enforce sample ship dates according to the Product Development calendar and communicate priorities to our vendor. Is solution-oriented and proactive when requested ship dates cannot be met
• Review the Inbound Log in PLM daily to confirm the on-time shipment and transit of samples while ensuring any sample delays are communicated to team members. Responsible for proactively working with trade compliance and logistic partners on any shipments that are not on schedule. Manage up risk and impact of delays
• Supports cross functional calendar meeting preparation and proactive communication across applicable teams
• Work with cross functional teams to determine sample order quantity needs by SKU
• Own issuing supplier requests and sample orders in PLM system. Ensure vendors are made aware by handoff notice via email
• Manage development sample communication and tracking with vendors to ensure quality, on time shipments throughout all development sample phases
• Maintain and keep all sample documentation organized and easily accessible for team use through the PLM system
• Prepare shipments of samples to external and overseas teams
• Responsible for responding to all internal team sample requests, fulfilling when able to, or directing to the correct team when unable to fill the request. All requests are to be logged and reported on. Collaborate with other specialists to ensure office coverage for sample receiving and requests every business day
• Review, approve, and track sample invoices from the vendors, and work closely with accounting to issue payment. Proactively reach out to vendors to ensure they are submitting their invoices in a timely manner
• Check-in sample orders in PLM to record the receipt of all incoming samples in a timely manner. Ensure shipment contents and quantities are congruent with packing lists, and if incorrect, communicate discrepancies to vendors
• Maintain meticulous organization of received samples and other materials in stock rooms and propose solutions when challenges arise

What they're looking for:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Design, Product Development, Fashion Merchandising, or related fields
• 1-3 years' experience in Product Development for a high-growth company
• Strong multi-tasking skills and ability to react quickly in a fast-paced environment
• Excited by a challenge and can execute projects with limited or no direction
• Deadline focused, detail-oriented and highly organized; Not fazed by complexity, multiple timelines, and competing priorities
• Understanding of retail, product development, technical design, and manufacturing processes
• Experience working with domestic and overseas vendors
• Experience developing, implementing, and communicating new processes and tools
• Exhibits strong effective communication skills
• A strong ability to build cross functional partnerships and work collaboratively
• A growth mindset: desire to learn, grow and embrace new ideas
• Expertise in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint