VP, Product Development and Sourcing
New York, NY
Sourcing (clothing) /
Full Time /
Hybrid
About Us:
Primary is a mom-founded kids clothing brand on a mission to encourage every kid to be the truest version of themselves. Since launching in 2015, Primary offers an assortment of simple, beautiful, gender neutral styles known for their hand-me-downable quality, super soft and sustainable fabrics, and slogan-free designs. Our customers are passionate about our mission, which has led to incredibly strong repeat metrics and one of the highest NPS scores in the industry (85+). We are laser-focused on building a strong, sustainable and profitable (!!) business, and hiring the best people to help us get there.
Our company values kind and thoughtful self-starters who can think strategically and then work collaboratively with people across the organization to produce high-quality outcomes. We are also a very change-friendly group of people, and are always seeking fresh points of view to uncover ways we can improve our products, processes and team culture.
Full-Time Employee Benefits:
- 4-day workweek: Fridays are flexible at Primary to allow you to manage your work-life balance
- Company-sponsored medical, dental, & insurance, pre-tax spending/savings accounts, 401(k), company-provided disability & life insurance, and more.
- Generous time off: 12 days of PTO (15 days after two years at the company), 3 floating holidays, 11 company-paid holidays (plus the last week of December off), plus 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents
- Primary School: a program that gives every employee $100 a month to spend on classes to help them grow (even if unrelated to their work).
- $500 to spend on improving your work from home setup (for remote/hybrid employees)
This key role manages Primary’s product development and sourcing strategies and activities designed to ensure timely delivery of product that meets our quality standards, protects the brand aesthetic and design intent, and delivers at the right price point.
This role will manage the product development cycle and collaborate internally with Primary’s design, merchandising, and planning teams to execute quality product that meets the requirements of the brand and the business. This role is responsible for developing and managing supplier relationships, including negotiating with outside vendors to ensure appropriate quality, pricing, and factory capacity. This person will also lead a small team of product development and sourcing managers. These teams, along with our designers, merchandisers, and others who work directly with our product in a hands-on way, work on a hybrid basis, based out of our office in NYC's garment district.
Core Responsibilities - Product Development and Pre-Production
- Lead development initiatives in partnership with Design and Fabric to ensure product meets appropriate cost, quality, and delivery requirements.
- Identify possible fabric, wash, production, or costing issues early in development stages by partnering with both Design and Fabric. Provide proactive guidance and solutions to help support design intent.
- Collaborate with suppliers and all product cross functional teams (design/color, fabric, quality, and tech) to mitigate risk and lead-time issues during development cycle to ensure product is ready to buy and commercially viable in time for buy cycle.
- Provide “solutions oriented” leadership and proactive problem-solving in a timely manner to protect brand aesthetic and financial and lead-time goals.
Core Responsibilities - Sourcing
- Develop and finalize the sourcing plan, ensuring considerations for quality, aesthetic intent, factory capacity and capabilities, and costing.
- Oversee production execution, including planning, logistics, placement, and administrative functions as well as issue resolution for delivery and/or production issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to reduce lead-times on key programs.
- Lead seasonal calendar and timing and action activities, and communicate to CFT.
- Validate and manage capacity plans.
- Set strategies and priorities for product development and sourcing teams and manage day to day activities.
Core Responsibilities - Costing
- Direct, communicate, and execute the costing strategy.
- Lead and facilitate strong cross functional synergy and collaboration with Design, Tech, Merchandising, and Planning.
Required Experience
- 15+ years of garment development and global sourcing and production experience, with extensive knowledge of product requirements and factory capabilities, and an ability to translate that knowledge to develop and execute brand requirements.
- Deep technical knowledge and understanding of product cost across relevant apparel categories.
- Proven track record of managing and mentoring a team.
- Previous experience with (and ongoing ability to) travel to international partner sites.
Skills for Success
- Proactive problem solving skills, especially during product development phase, and ability to redirect teams as needed to successfully develop and deliver product that meets brand aesthetic, quality, lead time, and cost targets.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to exert influence both internally and externally with Primary’s overseas supply base.
- Ability to work in a very fluid and fast paced environment and remain flexible in order to adjust priorities and work streams accordingly.
- Well organized and able to stay on top of critical day-to-day details as well as synthesize large amounts of information into focused takeaways and next steps.
- High degree of personal integrity and honesty.
$190,000 - $225,000 a year
The salary range listed is based on hiring at a VP level for this role. Exact salary will depend upon the experience and level of the candidate who ultimately fills the role. This role is also eligible for stock options as part of Primary's total compensation philosophy.
Want to apply but not sure if you’d be the right fit? If this role calls to you, we want to hear from you. There is no ‘perfect’ candidate. Everyone brings something different to the team, and our diversity is what makes us strong. Speaking of which - not only is discrimination illegal, it is simply not tolerated at Primary. We welcome all candidates who are currently eligible to work full-time in the United States for any employer to apply.
We want all candidates to thrive during the interview process. If you have any accommodation needs for your interview, please let us know at hr at primary dot com. Our HR Director will reach out to get you set up for success at any point during the interview process where you may need accommodations. Not sure if this applies to you? Primary is a proud Disclo customer - check out their quiz "Do I Qualify for Reasonable Accommodation?"
