Product Developer I, Travel & Equipment

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome-both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.

L.L.Bean is seeking a Product Developer I to support the execution of line development for Travel & Equipment categories and build toward full ownership of a product category.

In this role, you will collaborate cross-functionally with design, merchandising, and sourcing teams to bring high-quality products to life. You'll play a key part in managing systems, processes, samples, and quality standards to ensure a seamless development process and exceptional product execution.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct Market & customer research through focus groups, vendor/mill visits & field testing.
• Travel to trade shows for material sourcing.
• Travel to factories and mills to research construction techniques and material innovation.
• Works with raw materials to identify new fabric development needs. Provide fabric development needs to mills and/or raw materials suppliers to develop materials that meet strategic direction and cost.
• Ensure Corp Merchant's vision is met through development of products that meet cost & margin targets, including attention to: materials, construction, fit, wear/lab testing, performance & function.
• Develop/drive calendar to meet development timelines, production plans and delivery schedules for products and raw materials. Monitor to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Collaborates with key partners to ensure fabric selection meets original product intent.
• Ensures fabric selection passes lab testing; meets cost target; is commercially viable and meets the original Design intent for handfeel, drape aesthetic.
• Works with key partners to determine vendors, ensuring best price, construction, quality, design, and cost/value relationship standards.
• Partners with Sourcing to review product costing, negotiate pricing and provide input to vendor performance management.
• Manages relationship with vendors to ensure product standards are met while maintaining cost and efficiency of process.
• Provides input to product research & testing, quality & fit specification to maintain product quality and reduce return rates.
• Partners with Graphics to develop and execute labels/hangtags/packaging.
• Supports photo sample process. Order and track to ensure photo samples are received in a timely manner.
• Maintains systems to support the development process.
• Incorporates packaging & hangtag requirements into product specifications.
• Resolves problems & trouble shooting issues as they arise.
• Maintains consistent flow of information to key partners including Merchandising, Design, Sourcing & Technical Design to ensure that key aspects of the product are clearly communicated.
• Provide support & coordination for the team and manage low to medium size demand center.
• Makes sound and timely decisions for activities within own area of responsibility, consulting others as appropriate.
• Communicates to cross-department group.
• Performs moderately complex analysis of data. Identifies trends. Makes suggestions.
• Actively learns and applies new skills, techniques, and procedures.
• Identifies issues within the context of own job which require decisions or other action.
• Makes innovative suggestions and tries new approaches.
• Ably uses language to convey tone, clear meaning, and substance.
• Proactively leverages written communications to keep others informed.
• Produces written work that is clear, easy to follow and concise.
• Builds collaborative relationships in order to support win-win outcomes.
• Effectively advocates for ideas.
• Advocates for ideas while remaining open to others.
• Mentor others.
• Tasks are a balance of strategic and tactical.
• Other duties as assigned.

Health and Safety Requirement: Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.

Skills & Qualifications

• BA/BS preferred
• 1-3 years of relevant experience required
• Fabric/textile experience required
• Proven understanding of the end-to-end product development process
• Strong ability to build cross-functional relationships and communicate effectively

If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.