Product Management Manager, Luxury Shoes and Leathergoods

Ralph Lauren; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Lauren is seeking a Product Lifecycle Manager in New York to own end-to-end development for Footwear and Leather Goods, coordinating with Design, Sourcing, and Planning to deliver brand-right products on schedule.

You will drive data integrity within PLM, manage samples, and lead production handoffs, collaborating with factories and regional teams to balance quality, cost, lead times and margins.

Qualifications

• End-to-end product lifecycle experience for footwear and leather goods.
• Understanding of footwear and leather goods construction, materials, and costs.
• Experience coordinating samples, commercialization, and production handoffs.
• Proficiency with PLM systems and product data management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage master approvals and commercialization milestones for bulk production readiness.
• Coordinate proto reviews, wear testing, and quality assessments.
• Partner with sourcing teams on production allocation and delivery execution.
• Maintain seasonal product information and e-commerce attributes.

Skills

Product lifecycle management

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Analytical mindset

Tools

Ariba

PLM systems

Job description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Responsible for managing the end-to-end product lifecycle for Footwear and Leather Goods, partnering cross-functionally with Design, Development, Sourcing, Technical Design, and Planning to deliver commercially viable, on-time, and brand-right product. Drive operational excellence across product creation, data integrity, vendor management, and commercialization while supporting seasonal and long-term business objectives. Serve as a key partner in translating creative vision into production-ready product while balancing quality, cost, lead time, and margin goals.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Manage end-to-end product lifecycle for Footwear and Leather Goods from concept through commercialization and bulk production
• Partner with Design, Merchandising, Development, Sourcing, Technical Design, and regional teams to align on seasonal product strategy, execution, and key milestones
• Lead cross-functional calendar management and proactively identify risks to ensure on-time development and production readiness
• Serve as a key point of contact and escalation partner for product-related decisions, development challenges, and execution issues

Sample & Production Coordination

• Create and manage sales sample purchase orders (POs), including PO assignment and factory handoff
• Track and manage proto, SMS, and SRS sample status, ensuring timely delivery and issue resolution
• Partner with factories, vendors, and regional teams to proactively address delays, quality concerns, and production risks
• Support seasonal sample reviews, fit sessions, and product evaluations to ensure readiness for commercialization

PLM & Product Data Management

• Establish and maintain seasonal frameworks and product information within PLM systems
• Own and maintain product data, including BOMs, costing, construction details, product attributes, and specifications
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all product information throughout the product lifecycle
• Partner with sourcing and development teams to support costing analysis and margin objectives

Materials & Development

• Support seasonal material development for footwear and leather goods, including leather, textiles, trims, hardware, and components
• Partner with vendors, tanneries, factories, and regional teams to ensure material readiness and alignment with design intent
• Maintain seasonal material libraries, development trackers, and product documentation
• Track material approvals and resolve issues related to quality, availability, lead times, or cost

Commercialization & Production Readiness

• Manage master approvals and commercialization milestones to support bulk production readiness
• Coordinate proto reviews, wear testing, quality assessments, and risk management activities
• Ensure products meet brand standards for quality, craftsmanship, performance, and aesthetic integrity
• Partner with sourcing teams to support production allocation, capacity planning, and delivery execution

E-Commerce & Product Information

• Manage and maintain e-commerce product attributes, descriptions, classifications, and seasonal product information
• Ensure accurate and complete product data is available for digital and retail channels

Vendor & Operational Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with footwear and leather goods vendors, factories, and sourcing partners
• Monitor development and production progress, escalating risks and driving timely resolution
• Process invoices through Ariba and support vendor payment tracking as needed
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance efficiency, and strengthen operational execution

Salary range: $65,000 - $129,225 annually,

• Proven experience managing the end-to-end product lifecycle from concept through commercialization and bulk production
• Strong knowledge of footwear and leather goods construction, materials, hardware, manufacturing processes, and product development timelines
• Experience managing sample milestones, commercialization activities, and production handoff
• Working knowledge of PLM systems and product data management, including BOMs, costing, specifications, and product setup
• Strong understanding of costing, margin impact, material sourcing, and production trade-offs
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Proven ability to anticipate risks, solve problems proactively, and drive results in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and cross-functional partnership skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused mindset