Manager of Product Development, Warby Parker

• Our ideal candidate is a strong communicator with experience in development and strategic sourcing
• Backed by 5+ years of relevant experience
• An excellent communicator (online and in person) who demonstrates strong cross-functional collaborative skills
• Always on top of things and unflappably professional—you’ll be working with external partners, so this is especially important!
• Detail-oriented with super strong organizational and analytical skills
• Confident relying on your judgment and past experience to set and accomplish goals
• A seasoned, successful project manager who can manage overlapping timelines and complex dependencies
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Google Drive, and Adobe applications (for viewing tech drawings, combining files, and making edits)
• Experienced in working with international vendors and knowledgeable about the cultural, regulatory, commercial, operational, and logistical implications of managing day-to-day operations within that setting
• Understanding of what drives vendors’ cost structures and capable of negotiating with overseas providers

Desirable

• Warby Parker is looking for a seasoned Product Development Manager to lead the development and sourcing of beautiful frames in partnership with our designers as well as our suite of packaging and accessories
• In this collaborative role, you’ll use your development and strategic sourcing experience to translate our designs into final products, all while optimizing cost, quality, and lead time
• We’ll count on you to help Warby Parker set and execute a strategy for frame and raw materials vendors that aligns with our growth targets
• You’ll be primarily accountable for vendor development, negotiations, sourcing, production management, and reporting on vendor performance metrics
• The Product Development Manager will report to the Director of Product Development under the Product Strategy team umbrella, which includes the Merchandising and Planning departments
• Manage multiple key factory relationships for both new developments and core businesses through the end-to-end product lifecycle
• Partner closely with our designers to create successful seasonal, chase, and long-term innovation development that leads to a high adoption rate for our prototypes
• Work with internal teams to understand their product needs from a quality, price, and design perspective
• Create development calendars and own their implementation ensuring that internal and external partners know and adhere to timelines
• Continually assess Warby Parker’s current vendor base and spending, including forecasting, capacity planning, and sampling and manufacturing lead-times
• Oversee the purchasing of frames, accessories, and packaging, then measure the delivery and quality performance associated with each product type
• Negotiate costs while considering cost trade-offs within the product, vendors’ cost structures, and overall business volume
• Manage internal and external processes associated with onboarding new frame vendors, including the introduction and facilitation of our Vendor Compliance Manual
• Determine and report out KPIs to include in vendor scorecards, internal team performance measures, and future department goals