Dickies: Senior Director, Global Product Development

JOB TITLE:

Senior Director, Global Product Development

Position Summary:

A day in the life of a Senior Director of Global Product Development at Dickies looks a little like this.

The Senior Director of Global Product Development will lead the product development team, covering global markets. This role collaborates closely with design, merchandising, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure successful execution of the product. The primary responsibility is to oversee the entire product development process, from concept to commercialization, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and achievement of business targets. Additionally, this role is responsible for managing raw materials (fabric and trim), driving innovation in fabric and technical design, overseeing product development, costing, ensuring quality assurance/execution for Walmart products, and overseeing product operations and process tracking closely linked to the development calendar.  This position reports to the Chief Merchandising Officer. 

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Lead the global product development team in creating and executing product strategies that align with the brand's vision and business objectives. 
• Oversee the entire product development process, from concept to commercialization, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to business needs. 
• Manage raw materials (fabric and trim), driving innovation in fabric, staying up to date with industry trends, competitor activities, and technological advancements to drive workwear product innovation. 
• Oversee product development, costing, and technical design, ensuring products meet quality, fit, and functional standards while considering cost and manufacturability. 
• Ensure quality assurance and execution for Walmart products, maintaining high standards of product quality and delivery. 
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the product development team. 
• Collaborate with product supply teams on lead times, sourcing, and other supply chain aspects to ensure timely and efficient product delivery. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and other external partners. 
• Develop and implement processes and best practices to streamline product development and improve efficiency. 
• Ensure effective costing and apply knowledge of value engineering to optimize product costs. 
• Collaborate with design, merchandising, sales, and supply chain teams. 
• Manage product development in all regions, including Asia and Europe, and work as the primary liaison with product supply hubs. 
• Oversee product operations, closely linked to the product development calendar and systems for development tracking. 

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required to have, we are most interested in your 10+ years of experience and professional achievements.

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Leadership: Strong leadership skills to guide and inspire the product development team. 
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and execute strategic plans that align with business objectives. 
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing costing, sales data, and other relevant information to make informed decisions. 
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and present ideas to senior leadership. 
• Innovation: Creative mindset with the ability to drive innovation in product development. 
• Project Management: Strong project management skills to oversee the entire product development process and ensure timely delivery. 
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of fabric, trim, and technical design, as well as knowledge of value engineering and costing. 
• Quality Assurance: Ability to ensure products meet high standards of quality, fit, and functionality. 
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and other external partners. 
• Adaptability: Ability to manage product development in multiple regions and adapt to different market needs. 
• Operational Efficiency: Knowledge of product operations, development tracking systems, and supply chain management. 

Educational/ Position Requirements: 

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Fashion Design, Business, or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred. 
• Industry Experience: 10+ years of experience in