Associate Project Manager, Food Development - Williams Sonoma

Overview of the role

Based in San Francisco, this position on behalf of Williams-Sonoma is responsible for project managing the development of new or expanded assortments or categories for the Food department. These responsibilities will include the development of key project milestones and driving the coordination of activities between external WS resources and its internal departments to meet project performance and delivery requirements. Additionally, the position will build supplier/vendor relationships with the focus to improve the development process, anticipate problems and eliminate late delivery of products through regular project stakeholder meetings.

 

Responsibilities

• Management the timing and delivery of the projects within the Top Stores programs
• Liaise with external design/engineer/manufacturers/vendors and internal W-S departments
• Identify issues influencing costs that arise and impact project budgets
• Support the development of W-S relationship with current supply/vendor base
• Analyze market (domestic) and provide observations of the market to Buyer for market analyses
• Identify and recommend new products or business opportunities
• Perform market analysis, competitive shop, and analyze sales trends to keep abreast of current trends. Identify emerging trends and develop business strategies outlining strengths, weaknesses, new opportunities, and threats
• Collaborate with Inventory Management to provide Sourcing and Production Management with purchase quantities, delivery dates, flow and exit strategies for initial cost and production negotiations for new programs
• As needed, provide Inventory Management with final assortment plans (line lists), product details, target retails, estimated IMU, importance to overall assortment (big bets), flow to DC, and floor plan location for developing purchase projections and buy plans
• As needed, visit stores and contact field management to gather information on customer feedback and product issues

 

Criteria

• BA/BS
• Previous experience in a retail buying office, or a related experience.
• Displays forward-thinking, problem-solving, and a sense of urgency.
• Organizational and project-specific project management skills
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills
• People relationship skills; ability to motivate suppliers/vendors and their teams, and ability to provide direction to the W-S team
• Excellent organizational, leadership, communication, and analytical skills
• Demonstrate commitment to high professional ethical standards

 

Our Company Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.