VP of Product Development & Production

Los Angeles, CA, United States

THE COMPANY: BIRDY GREY (www.birdygrey.com)

Birdy Grey is a direct-to-consumer brand whose mission is to celebrate and elevate friendships during one of the most important milestones in a person’s life: THE WEDDING.

Founded in 2017 by best friends Grace Lee (CEO & Founder) and Monica Ashauer (President & Co-Founder), Birdy Grey offers affordable bridesmaid dresses starting at $100, and fun gifts and accessories for everyone in the bridal party. Brides and bridesmaids alike count on Birdy Grey for their most important day—so much so that we’ve dressed over half a million bridesmaids (and counting) in less than 5 years.

POSITION: Vice President of Product Development & Production

REPORTS TO: COO

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA (partial remote)

We are seeking an experienced Vice President of Product Development & Production to have full oversight of global production, logistics, planning and scheduling, and inventory control. This role will execute the global strategy, building a top-tier team to execute, and develop and manage vendors to achieve goals. We’re looking for a hands-on, strategic leader that is able to collaborate and build consensus in an entrepreneurial fast paced, and explosive growth environment. Reporting to our COO, this person will oversee the Product Development, Production, and Technical Design teams. The VP of Product Development & Production must develop a roadmap that enables our continued fast paced growth. This candidate must have strong relations with vendors overseas and the ability to build out a team. Ideal candidate is a data-driven leader with excellent interpersonal skills and tenacious problem solving attitude. They must be willing to get their hands dirty and work closely with cross-functional partners in a fast-paced environment.

Scope Of Responsibilities

Define, drive and monitor performance ensuring continuous improvement on KPI’s associated with Supply Chain metrics

Develop a manufacturing/production process focused on product excellence, quality, reliability, costing, timing and accountability

Mentor Production, Product Development and Technical Design team, acting as a strong people manager

Oversee Technical Design, QC and product samples throughout their lifecycle

Develop a cohesive and integrated vision for our Production capabilities including multi-year investment roadmaps (cash flow, P&L impacts).

Ability to communicate effectively with partners overseas and help build out a team on the ground

Ensure products are manufactured in a manner consistent with specifications from the product development team, established fit and quality standards, manufacturer capabilities, and cost targets

Liaise heavily with overseas partners to ensure above (via WeChat email/ slack/ phone); periodic in- person visits to Asia (as often as once a quarter) to work directly with manufacturing partners

Research production strategies and investigate new opportunities and processes

Ensure compliance with Birdy Grey’s standard operating procedures and continue to improve standards/best practices

Oversee QA – troubleshoot product issues with data/analysis, manage QA processes with factory partners/ QA team third party agencies including understanding detailed QA inspection reports

Responsibility for Product Development department (oversight of team, processes, projects, budget)

Manage the Product Development team, partnering with founder on design, and merchandising and production teams to ensure product developed on time and within target costing

Ensure calendars developed and maintained for product development for existing and new product categories

Ensure product development team communicates effectively with overseas and local vendors to develop samples and ensure successful handoff to production team

Troubleshoot product issues as they arise to based on customer feedback/QA/ design mistakes

Help team address quality complaints, identify root cause, and provide timely corrective action plan to fix

THE RIGHT CANDIDATE: QUALIFICATIONS & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required

Experience / Requirements

Minimum of 10 years supply chain / production / sourcing experience

At least 5 years experience at a fashion/apparel company. Must have experience working with women’s garments that have a major fabric, construction, and fit component

Proven leadership in manufacturing for a DTC or Ecommerce brand

Experience working in a startup

At least 5 years management experience working directly with overseas agents/factories. Must have experience working directly with China factories.

At least 6 years of direct people management experience

Experience managing new factories and raw materials

Experience in Quality Control in the apparel industry

Deep knowledge of the product development process and product category

Strong Excel and analytical skills

Ability to work cross-culturally and across time zones

Ability to collaborate with cross-functional partners from other departments (design, digital product, merchandising, inventory planning, operations, finance, customer service, etc.) and project manage key cross-functional initiatives from inception to completion

Ability to set vision and goals at the department and individual level and motivate team to achieve strong and tangible results

Ability to foster a positive, collaborative, and open work environment that motivates employees

Ability to take the lead in people management within the department, including resource planning, recruiting, and performance management

Ability to work in a demanding, fast-paced environment, with a strong attention to detail

Highly organized and able to prioritize competing tasks / projects to meet deadlines

Hard working and willing to roll sleeves up - no job is too big or too small

You have an entrepreneurial spirit. You thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, fluid environment. You are comfortable with ambiguity and take initiative to lead projects

Resourceful and scrappy - can figure out solutions to novel problems independently

Proactive problem solver, able to troubleshoot and/or escalate issues effectively

NICE TO HAVES

Experience with “made to order” model

Evening wear and dresses sourcing experience

Bilingual in English / Mandarin Chinese a plus!

WHY BIRDY GREY: BENEFITS & PERKS (for eligible Full-Time Employees)

Competitive Compensation: Based on experience and performance + Annual Performance Bonus

Healthcare Benefits: 100% employer covered medical dental & vision plans, 50% spouse and dependent medical coverage + access to One Medical + Mental Health Benefits

Retirement: 401K with no waiting period

Generous PTO: Flexible Open PTO Policy + 11 paid holidays

Wellness: A monthly wellness day + Classpass membership + $50 monthly wellness stipend + summer Fridays

Flexibility: Partial remote with a high level of autonomy and accountability + $50 monthly WIFI stipend

Employee Discount: Free bridesmaid dresses + 50% discounts on Birdy Grey products

Family Benefits: 3 months of paid parental leave

Purpose: Join in the success of a high-growth, 80% women, minority founded, early-stage startup by driving performance and building out new processes

Highlights

Birdy Grey is #305 on Inc5000's List of Fastest Growing US Companies 2022

#22 on BuiltIn’s Best Startups to Work for in LA

Be part of a company innovating the $75B+ US wedding market (IBISWorld, 2019)

Join a Women Founded Small Business blazing trails in the Bridal industry

Birdy Grey is making waves on BuzzFeed, The Knot, Brides, People, Allure, PopSugar, Bustle and more

Named #5 on LA’s 50 Hottest Startups in 2020 by Pitchbook & Dot.LA

Customers can participate in Birdy Grey’s giveback program with The Princess Project, a non-profit that provides prom dresses and accessories to teens in need

Additional Information

The Lead Announces the 2021 Foremost 50 List: The Annual Power List of High-Growth D2C Brands

Cult-favorite bridal brand brings $99 bridesmaid dresses to one-day pop-up in Plano

My wedding party wore thse $99 bridesmaid dresses from Birdy Grey and everyone looked amazing, proving you don't need to make anyone spend $400 on a dress they'll wear once

Birdy Grey Instagram - @birdygrey

Birdy Grey is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

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