Confidential Client Product Management Manager, Luxury Shoes and Leathergoods
The Product Management Manager for Luxury Shoes and Leathergoods at Confidential Client oversees the entire product lifecycle from concept to bulk production, ensuring alignment with brand standards and commercial objectives. This role requires cross-functional collaboration with design, sourcing, and technical teams to manage product data, vendor relationships, and production readiness, driving operational excellence and timely delivery of high-quality luxury footwear and leather goods.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Advertising Services.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
- Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle for footwear and leather goods from concept through commercialization and bulk production.
- Partner cross-functionally with Design, Merchandising, Development, Sourcing, Technical Design, and regional teams to align on seasonal product strategy and execution.
- Lead cross-functional calendar management; proactively identify and communicate risks to ensure on-time development and production readiness.
- Serve as a key escalation point for product decisions, development challenges, and execution issues.
- Create and manage sales sample purchase orders (POs), including PO assignment and factory handoff.
- Track and manage proto, SMS, and SRS sample status to ensure timely delivery and issue resolution.
- Support seasonal sample reviews, fit sessions, and product evaluations to confirm readiness for commercialization.
- Establish and maintain seasonal frameworks and product information within PLM systems.
- Own and maintain product data—BOMs, costing, construction details, product attributes, and specifications—ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Partner with sourcing and development teams on costing analysis and margin objectives; support material development for leather, textiles, trims, hardware, and components.
- Manage commercialization milestones and master approvals to support bulk production readiness; coordinate wear testing, quality assessments, and risk management activities.
- Maintain e-commerce product attributes, descriptions, and classifications so digital and retail channels have accurate product data.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, factories, and sourcing partners; monitor development and production progress and escalate risks as needed.
- Process invoices through Ariba and support vendor payment tracking when required.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance efficiency, and strengthen operational execution.
Experience & Qualifications
- Proven experience managing product lifecycles from concept through commercialization and bulk production—ideally for footwear and leather goods or comparable accessories.
- Deep knowledge of footwear and leather goods construction, materials, hardware, manufacturing processes, and development timelines.
- Demonstrated experience managing sample milestones, commercialization activities, and production handoffs.
- Working knowledge of PLM systems and product data management (BOMs, costing, specs, product setup).
- Strong understanding of costing, margin impact, material sourcing, and production trade-offs.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills; able to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
- Proactive problem-solver with the ability to anticipate risks and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication and cross-functional partnership skills; able to influence and align diverse stakeholders.
- Analytical, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused mindset.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience preferred.
Skills & Tools
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
- BOM creation and product costing
- Sample management (proto, SMS, SRS)
- Vendor & factory coordination (including tanneries and component suppliers)
- Commercialization and production readiness processes
- Ariba (invoice/vendor payment processing)
- E‑commerce product data and attribute management
- Strong Excel / data analysis skills
Why Work With Our Client
- Work on premium product lines within a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
- Influence product quality, craftsmanship, and commercial outcomes across wholesale and digital channels.
- Opportunity to drive process improvements and strengthen global vendor partnerships.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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