SummaryThe Senior Manager of R&D and Packaging at Ralph Lauren will lead comprehensive material innovation initiatives across the Home division, including Hard Goods, Soft Goods, and Packaging. This role is responsible for driving long-range strategic development and launching new categories by identifying innovative materials, finishes, and techniques. The position combines creative initiatives, operational excellence, and technical expertise to advance product elevation while maintaining brand standards across all Home categories.
Responsibilities- Lead innovation strategy for all Home categories, ensuring alignment with Ralph Lauren's heritage of quality and craftsmanship.
- Drive alignment and prioritization of material development initiatives across Design, Merchandising, and Product Management teams.
- Create and manage dedicated workstreams for material innovation beyond seasonal development cycles.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key factories to drive innovation while optimizing costs and upholding quality benchmarks.
- Present quarterly updates on long-range material development to Product Management, Merchandising, and Design teams.
- Develop transition processes for moving innovative materials into seasonal line plans.
- Transform and maintain the material library into an interactive innovation hub.
- Identify and execute strategic projects to optimize packaging costs, sourcing, and development processes.
- Lead end-to-end development and execution of comprehensive packaging roadmap.
- Create and manage standardized processes for design brief intake and execution.
- Establish approval workflows and timeline management systems to support seasonal deadlines.
- Monitor and report project status to stakeholders, proactively identifying and addressing potential risks.
- Lead a team of Graphic Designers to deliver high-quality artwork that meets brand standards.
- Manage creative development process from concept through production.
- Drive quality standards across all packaging programs.
- Oversee development and review of packaging samples.
Requirements- 8+ years of experience in product development and R&D, with success in materials innovation within luxury brands.
- Proven track record of leading cross-functional initiatives and managing creative teams.
- Strong technical expertise in manufacturing processes, production costing, and quality control.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with factories while driving innovation.
- Experience implementing operational procedures and managing complex timelines.
- Superior project management and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
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