Freelance- Product Development & Production (Handbags)- Onsite- New York

A well-known luxury fashion brand is looking for a Product Development & Production Specialist for Handbags. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for luxury accessories, global product development, and production who enjoys working in a collaborative, creative, and fast-paced environment.

About the Role:

We’re partnering with a luxury fashion brand seeking a Product Development & Production – Handbags & Accessories to lead the end-to-end product development and production process across handbags, small leather goods, and soft and hard accessories. This role will oversee global development, sourcing, production, vendor partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure exceptional quality, innovation, and on-time delivery from concept through bulk production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end product development and production from concept through bulk production
• Develop and manage seasonal development and production calendars
• Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, and Production teams
• Oversee prototypes, SMS, BOMs, fittings, and production approvals
• Build and manage relationships with global factories, suppliers, and manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe
• Negotiate costing, lead times, and support margin objectives
• Ensure product quality, functionality, and on-time delivery
• Identify sourcing opportunities and drive process improvements across development and production
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Accessories Product Development & Production team
• Travel internationally to support factory partnerships and production execution

Qualifications:

• 5 years of Accessories Product Development & Production experience
• Strong background in luxury handbags, leather goods, and accessories
• Experience working with global factories and manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe
• Strong sourcing, costing, production, and calendar management experience
• Deep understanding of leather goods construction, materials, and manufacturing processes
• Proven leadership and team management experience
• Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; RLM experience is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred

Ideal Background:

We’re especially interested in candidates from luxury or premium brands with experience leading Accessories Product Development, Production, Sourcing, or Merchandising teams. Experience with handbags, small leather goods, trims, materials, global sourcing, vendor management, and production execution is highly preferred.