Sr. Manager, Product Development

The Friedkin Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Wellness programs

Retirement plans and paid leave

Job summary

The Friedkin Group is seeking a Senior Manager of Product Development to lead the end-to-end development of fine jewelry. You will own vendor relationships, drive timelines from concept to launch, and ensure premium quality while coordinating across internal and external partners.

You will oversee production schedules, negotiate with suppliers, and maintain documentation and budgets. This role requires a passion for jewelry, strong organizational skills, and a track record of delivering high-end

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; gemology focus preferred.
• 8+ years in jewelry project management/product development.
• Strong knowledge of modern jewelry manufacturing techniques and gemstones.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication.
• Ownership and accountability with ability to manage multiple projects.
• Proven vendor negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Assess designs for viability and tooling solutions based on industry expertise.
• Provide project leadership for engineering, manufacturing, cost and design aesthetics.
• Create production schedules and allocate vendor capacity.
• Own the critical path from design to launch and manage milestones.
• Select vendors, negotiate lead times, monitor performance and resolve issues.
• Coordinate factory audits, supplier assessments and ensure quality standards.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Attention to detail

English communication

Cross-functional leadership

Jewelry product development

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Gemology focus preferred

Tools

CAD software

Monday.com

PLM

Oracle

Excel

InDesign

Photoshop

Job description

Living Our Values

All associates are guided by Our Values. Our Values are the unifying foundation of our companies. We strive to ensure that every decision we make and every action we take demonstrates Our Values. We believe that putting Our Values into practice creates lasting benefits for all of our associates, shareholders, and the communities in which we live.

Why Join Us?

• Career Growth: Advance your career with opportunities for leadership and personal development.
• Culture of Excellence: Be part of a supportive team that values your input and encourages innovation.
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that looks after both your professional and personal needs.

Total Rewards

Our Total Rewards package underscores our commitment to recognizing your contributions. We offer a competitive and fair compensation structure that includes base pay and performance-based rewards. Compensation is based on skill set, experience, qualifications, and job-related requirements. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, retirement plans, and generous paid leave. Discover more about what we offer by visiting ourBenefitspage.

A Day In The Life

Founded in 2024, Savannah Friedkin is a modern fine jewelry brand rooted in quality craftsmanship and environmental consciousness. Savannah Friedkin Jewelry now enters a pivotal scaling phase, evolving from a promising creative studio into a globally recognized brand.

The Senior Manager of Product Development will provide comprehensive, highly organized project management for the successful development of new Fine Jewelry from initial development through launch. This role serves as the primary owner of vendor communication and project execution, proactively collaborating to drive timelines, identifying risks, resolving issues and maintain alignment across internal and external partners. The role requires exceptional attention to detail, accountability, and a genuine passion for fine jewelry, craftsmanship and product development.

As a Senior Manager of Product Development you will:

• Assess product designs to ensure project viability (technical feasibility, design/volume translation, quality), taking into consideration alternative processes and specific tooling solutions based on industry expertise.
• Provide multifaceted project leadership for new product development efforts focusing on engineering, manufacturing, cost, and design aesthetic needs.
• Create production schedules, prioritize launches, and allocate vendor capacity.
• Own the critical path from design approval through launch, monitor milestones, identify blockers and recovery plans and own sample budget.
• Select vendors with whom we work, negotiate lead times, monitor performance, resolve issues, maintain vendor score cards.
• Serve as primary contact (owner) with external vendors during development collaboration.
• Effectively negotiate costing.
• Identify and resolve delays with vendors, materials, and approvals.
• Maintain open and regular communication with vendors on project status, risks, priorities and recommended next steps, providing documentation and reporting as required, including reporting related to monthly launch status, WIP reports, vendor status, and timeline updates.
• Continuously evaluate and prioritize competing project needs based on launch requirements, development risk, business priorities and critical path, adjusting focus as circumstances evolve.
• Own technical decision-making and ensuring highest quality standards for all pieces produced: quality control of stones, work-in-progress, and finished products.
• Execute and maintain all product-specific documentation for new development and active finished goods.
• Identify project obstacles early and proactively drive resolution with vendors and internal partners; present clear options, implications and recommended next steps when escalation is required.
• Collaborate on solutions to improve manufacturability, cost and quality while preserving design intent and elevated product standards.
• Execute and track new sample orders and finished goods orders, ensuring product is properly ordered and received on schedule.
• Maintain purchase order template to include samples, new products, running changes, and custom orders.
• Manage incoming material inspection (diamonds, weight, finish, packaging, photography readiness).
• Support additional manufacturing and development initiatives as needed.
• Coordinate and conduct factory audits and supplier assessments to evaluate manufacturing capabilities, quality systems, production capacity, compliance, and overall supplier performance.

What We Need From You

• Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required; a focus in Gemology preferred
• 8+ years of professional jewelry project management / product development experience Required
• Strong knowledge of modern jewelry manufacturing techniques, jewelry construction, precious metal metallurgy and gemstones.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with demonstrated ability to manage numerous concurrent projects without losing visibility to individual actions, deadlines, or product details.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability, with the discipline and persistence to follow projects and outstanding issues through to resolution.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment; able to assess issues, develop solutions and escape appropriately when necessary.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with internal partners and external vendors.
• Genuine interest in and passion for jewelry, craftsmanship, design and the process of transforming creative concepts into exceptional finished product.
• High standards for quality and execution.
• Proficient Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite skills (particularly Excel, InDesign, Photoshop); Working knowledge of Monday.com, PLM, and Oracle software.
• Practical CAD knowledge.

Travel Requirements

• 20% travel to support the operations, off-site events as needed, including annual factory visits abroad.

Join Us

The Friedkin Group and its affiliates are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities, including providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail]. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all associates.

We are seeking candidates legally authorized to work in the United States, without Sponsorship.