Program Manager

Position Summary

This position is responsible for managing and executing both import and domestic programs in compliance with all customer and government regulations. Programs are required to be delivered on time while meeting the quality expectations against our brand as well as our external customer requirements. The position requires strong attention to detail, timeline management, product knowledge, problem solving skills, critical thinking and clear communication with precise information to our procurement team, overseas sourcing team and factory partners. It also requires collaborating, team building and partnering with both internal and external teams. As this position requires detailed communication between the US and international locations, work hours will be staggered to cover portions of both US and international business hours.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage the supply chain process and communication to deliver 100% on-time quality programs with overall margins that meet or exceed our annual company goal.
• Work in conjunction with the product development and design teams to write clear and precise specifications into an RFQ (Request for Quotation) within the PLM system.
• Support and follow best practices in the process of executing and delivering your programs on time. 
• Build and maintain a costing matrix for each category you own by partnering with your supervisor, product development, and sourcing teams.
• Partner with Procurement team to determine factory partners with the best fit to quote each program.
• Communicate directly with Gartner’s overseas sourcing team and factories to problem solve issues and opportunities.
• Work with the art production team to manage the timeline and accuracy of art files being delivered to the vendor partners.
• Assure timely delivery of all samples required for customer and product development approval.
• Provide help and support to QA staff to ensure that all testing is completed to allow on time delivery.
• Provide support to all operations as needed.
• Understanding of product offering, retail and competitive landscape for all key accounts/customers 
• Collaboration with vendors on real-time product development, relationship building, costing and specification negotiations
• All other duties as assigned.

Company Expectations

• Consistent emphasis on collaboration with cross-functional team members 
• Mitigating conflict with urgency, addressing concerns with subordinates, peers and management independently and professionally
• Consistently and respectfully on time for all meetings
• Professionally present in all meetings, focused (not on computer with other work, cell phones)
• Vigorously respect time management, for yourself and all team members
• Established and clearly articulated point of view (POV)
• Troubleshooting, solution identifier
• Preparedness for all inward and outward facing meetings and presentations
• Model behavior: exceptional attitude, act with urgency, clear expectations & communication
• Consistently and accurately follow all process procedures, tools and system requirements as instructed by manager

Job Specifications

Minimum Education: 

• Bachelor’s Degree required 
• Operations, Supply Chain, or International Business-related degrees preferred

Minimum Experience:

• 3 years’ experience in sourcing and/or product development related fields
• Proficient in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, Microsoft Teams
• General understanding of stationery product business with the ability to develop a very detailed understanding
• Proven ability to work in fast paced environment while juggling multiple competing tasks and demands
• Must display a positive and can-do attitude 
• Overseas experience working in Hong Kong or greater international sourcing operations capacity preferred

Key Skills:

• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Deliver clear and concise direction as well as feedback to both domestic and international team’s
• Detailed orientated with strong analytical skills
• Ability to organize, manage, and coordinate resources to manage the execution of all programs
• Resilient and adaptable in working with new and different product formats
• Collaborate with overseas sourcing team and factory partners
• Drives for results with a sense of urgency and commitment to achieve goals
• Able to multi-task across competing priorities

Other Requirements:

• Requires working on a personal computer for up to eight hours a day
• Communication with international teams outside of normal business hours
• Flexible work hours to cover US and Hong Kong and other international business hours