London, UK
Part-time product design/development manager
at Ceraudo
Ceraudo is seeking a part-time product design and development manager to join its team in London.
As product design and development manager, you will be required to work with the founders in designing new collection products (furniture and home accessories) and developing these designs considering technical aspects of a product through its whole life cycle. This will involve drawing designs (by hand and digital), liaising with suppliers for sampling, overseeing the production and the final product launch.
You will report to the founders and your day-to-day duties will be to support the Ceraudo.com business in areas relevant to product design, development and merchandising. Your experience and knowledge of design, product development and production will bring you into daily contact with the founders, the office team, and our suppliers from across the world.
You will support and assist the Ceraudo team in ensuring our products are launched in accordance with the business expectations, UK regulations and product standards.
Primary responsibilities:
- developing designs
- arrange relevant material testing in the UK (eg. fire retardant fabric that meets UK law)
- sample briefing (to suppliers)
- constant communication with the supplier and sourcing agent
- confirming swatches
- sample sign-off (visiting suppliers to review samples and create reports for the founders to sign-off, will require trips to Asia and Europe)
- photoshoot/master sample–confirm final samples to be shot for the website (either in Asia or UK)
- manage product development schedule
- liaise with sourcing agents for whatever they require, and ensure shipping logistics are running to schedule
Product and technical development:
- ensure product briefs and technical drawings meet founder and supplier expectations and are within agreed timeframes and sourcing constraints
- writing sample reports, ensuring all products are well executed in terms of design, construction, fitting, and means of production, finish and raw materials, and any assembly instructions to the agreed quality and customer standards
- you will be responsible for all stages of the product development, assessing and evaluating potential product performance issues, such as item safety, stability, durability and functionality
- you will be expected to have a thorough knowledge of what high-end, European customers expect from our products, and communicate this to suppliers to ensure our high standards are understood and met
- working with the founders and suppliers to resolve any technical problems arising during product design and development, actively proposing cost-effective solutions and resolving problems without compromising design integrity
- ensure suppliers have met product brief for sampling, and clearly state any revises to samples to the supplier and founders for the final sampling
Supplier management:
- create, build and maintain strong relationships with sourcing agents and suppliers, holding them accountable for any defects and/or poor service in support of improving the supplier and product performance
- constantly monitor supplier and product performance, identifying the most cost-effective solutions in a timely and supportive manner ensuring a quick resolution in order to keep to launch deadlines
- attend trade shows to find and build new relationships with suppliers
- evaluate the supplier’s production capability and allocate projects accordingly
Reporting and documentation:
- coordinate all required documentation for the product development life cycle
- ensure all projects are following our timelines and product launch dates
- check samples against briefs, and check final samples are aligned with the confirmed changes briefed
- brief the photographer so all products are shot in-line with current website photography standards
- ensure all the right teams receive final retouched photography (PR, marketing etc.) in order to prepare launch assets and promote the products
- answer any questions relating to products that the PR, marketing and possibly customers might have
- assist with product information for website upload
- liaise with supplier for final packing list with outer box dimensions and weights in order for them to print appropriate labels, and also so our UK warehouse can prepare to book in the shipment
What you’ll need:
- proven work experience in the home furniture and accessories areas
- proficient with AutoCAD/Photoshop/Illustrator
- ability to sketch for initial design ideas and have an understanding of technical drawings
- strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes
- ability to travel for supplier visits (Europe, Asia etc.)
- natural curiosity and creative problem-solving skills
- can anticipate production challenges and suggest alternatives/solutions
- highly organised/detailed with strong task follow-up capabilities
- ability to balance different priorities
- collaborative and inclusive work style–comfortable sharing both information and credit
- fluent in English–able to use written English for everyday work, and able to speak fluently for daily communication
What Ceraudo offers:
- a unique opportunity to work with a young, creative and exciting furniture brand
- the opportunity to make a real difference with creative designs, exciting product ideas that are unique to the furniture and homeware industry, and have a direct impact on the brand’s recognition and credibility
- great opportunity to make the role your own and get involved with exciting projects such as collaborations and limited edition collections
Working hours
24 hours per week. We are flexible about how this is split up.
Location:
- for now, it would be working from a hot desk location alongside the founders in Shepherds Bush or Chiswick, and eventually moving to a dedicated studio in 2020
- working from home some days is also an option
Please submit your application using the ‘apply’ link below.