ABOUT AWE

Awe Inspired is a venture-backed spiritual wellness brand based in Los Angeles, CA. In 2018 when lifelong jeweler Jill Johnson beat cancer for the third time, she set out to design a necklace that was universally wearable, exceptionally made, and deeply empowering as a way to honor her fellow survivors. Thus the Goddess Necklace was born. Jill’s zillennial son Max made a digital Goddess Quiz that went viral, and together they founded Awe Inspired.

Since then, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping others Live in Awe by designing wearable tokens of empowerment and using our platform to champion equality and social justice. Our beloved Goddess Collection has been worn by some of the most inspiring women in the world (Madonna, Miley, Taylor, Demi, Tyra, SJP, Halsey, etc) and featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, W, and InStyle. We sell Awe on our website aweinspired.com, at Nordstrom and Saks, and at our Melrose Ave Sanctuary. A portion of all proceeds benefit our incredible charity partners, and to date we’ve donated a million dollars to the causes we champion.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

We are looking for a Product Development Manager to drive the evolution of Awe’s next collections of meaningful, demi-fine jewelry and other accessories. Working under the Creative Director, the PD Manager is responsible for building out and managing the Design Development roadmap and calendar. The Product Development Manager will work alongside the Merchandiser to expand business with existing customers and gain new customers, identifying assortment opportunities and surface opportunities to create competitive advantage while ensuring assortment is both on trend and aligns with brand DNA and standards.

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the fine or demi-fine jewelry production process from design brainstorming, material selection and sourcing, sketching, sample production, CAD iteration/feedback, and QA and has experience directly managing, scoping and onboarding international manufacturing partners. This role will report to the Creative Director. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with the Creative Director on building out the entire Design Development roadmap and calendar, including management of all design briefs, supplier selection, quote requests, timeline, maintained COGS to ensure product profitability, product sampling, and delivery;
• Create, maintain and sustain strong supplier relationships as the key stakeholder for any PD/development escalation with suppliers;
• Manage the product development budget and expenses, especially relating to product sampling costs and contracted design work; 
• Submit technical packs of approved sketches and manage communication with factories throughout the manufacturing process until sample approval is complete;
• Manage communication and workflow between various contracted support (ie: CAD designer, sample maker, bench jewelers);
• Build out and manage thorough sample QA process (in addition to documented production standards) ensuring execution standards are met and fit is appropriate;
• Manage on-order log with product attributes, production status, and asset status; 
• Track all designs, colorways, and costs across the assortment and set up all product details in master product feed; 
• Incorporate team feedback, marketing and sales data, and insights throughout several rounds of design edits;
• Ensure all designs created are in keeping with design best practices and manufacturing standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 5+ years of experience overseeing production of fine or demi-fine jewelry for brands with strong visual identities and brand ethos. PD and sourcing experience in other categories (fashion accessories, wellness, home goods) a huge plus;
• Multiple years of experience interfacing directly with overseas factories and contracted designers, with demonstrated experience onboarding new factory partners to expand brand assortment range (e.g. new techniques, materials, categories);
• Highly organized individual with high proficiency in project management and managing overlapping development timelines to timely completion;
• High degree of aesthetic sensibility in the luxury and accessible luxury jewelry markets;
• High attention to detail and understanding that even the smallest details and specifications create the most desirable products.

 

BENEFITS:

• Attractive base salary;
• Generous vacation and healthcare benefits;
• 50% off all Awe products;
• Opportunity to create products that bring meaning and strength to women and minorities and supports those in need through our charity give back program;
• Trajectory and history of success at a brand that is profitable and operates in a fast-growing, highly-attractive market segment;
• Collaboration opportunity with enthusiastic founder team;
• Caring environment that values the societal impacts of its operations as much as financial gain.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: 

 

Awe is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.