The role plays a critical part in translating design concepts into production-ready solutions while driving cost transparency, improving sample execution and enhancing supplier technical capabilities. By integrating cost engineering principles with product expertise, this position supports better decision-making, strengthens supplier performance, and delivers high-quality products at the right cost and speed.What You'll Do
Technical construction & Sample Development
Act as the technical expert for handbags, leading construction, sample development and execution
Evaluate design feasibility, construction complexity and production risks early in development
Partner with Design and Product Development to ensure products are commercially viable and aligned with design intent
Supplier Performance & Capability Development
Play a key role in reducing technical risk, improving sample execution, and assessing supplier technical capabilities across handbag construction, materials, hardware and finishing techniques
Reduce development lead times through improved sample execution and process efficiency
Drive supplier performance improvement through technical leadership, capability building, and structured problem-solving
Partner with supplier teams to improve productivity, efficiency and overall manufacturing performance
Cost Engineering & Commercial Optimization
Lead strategic costing and supplier negotiations to achieve target margins and cost competitiveness
Drive cost and value engineering initiatives to optimize product cost, manufacturability, and scalability
Build and validate detailed product costing to ensure transparency, accuracy, and alignment with suppliers
Support in the development of factory level/country level cost competitive matrix
Proven experience in luxury or premium handbag product development
Background working with global handbag brands preferred
Strong exposure in handbag manufacturing environments
Demonstrated experience in supplier management and production execution
Technical & Category Expertise: Deep knowledge of handbag construction, including materials, hardware, and finishing techniques. Able to assess design feasibility, complexity, and execution risks, translating creative concepts into manufacturable products while maintaining premium quality and brand standards.
Commercial Acumen: Good understanding of cost drivers across materials, labor, and production processes. Skilled in negotiations and managing trade-offs, with the ability to identify value engineering opportunities that optimize cost while protecting product quality and brand intent.
Supplier & Execution Management: Proven ability to manage supplier performance across quality, cost, delivery, and compliance. Drives accountability through clear communication, strong follow-through, and proactive issue resolution while building effective, long-term vendor partnerships.
Collaboration & Influence: Effective cross-functional partner who communicates clearly and influences stakeholders without direct authority. Able to align diverse teams, balance creative and commercial priorities, and ensure smooth execution across design, development, and production.
Quality & Problem Solving: Detail-oriented with a strong quality-first mindset suited to premium products. Applies structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis to resolve issues, prevent recurrence, and maintain high standards in fast-paced, complex environments.
Ways of Working: Highly organized and disciplined, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight timelines. Uses data to inform decisions, remains resilient under pressure, and operates with a global mindset and cultural awareness, particularly in manufacturing environments.
Skills Required
- Proven experience in luxury or premium handbag product development.
- Background working with global handbag brands.
- Strong exposure in handbag manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience in supplier management and production execution.
- Deep knowledge of handbag construction, materials, hardware, and finishing techniques.
- Experience in cost engineering, strategic costing, and supplier negotiations.
- Ability to build and validate detailed product costing and cost competitive matrices.
- Proven ability to drive supplier performance improvement and capability building.
- Structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills focused on quality and manufacturing issues.
- Highly organized with ability to manage multiple priorities and tight timelines; strong cross-functional communication and influence.
What We Do
In 1969, Don and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco. They wanted to make it easier to find a great pair of jeans, and they did. Their denim and records store was a hit, and it grew to become one of the world’s most iconic brands. Today we’re represented in more than 1400 stores in over 40 countries, and online. We have headquarters in New York, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, and, of course, San Francisco. Our unique aesthetic is optimistic cool, elevated American style. Our clothes are crafted with care, with focused attention to thoughtful design. We believe in staying true to our heritage while creating what’s next. Don and Doris Fisher always wanted to “do more than sell clothes.” They wanted to support the people who ran their company, to be active in their communities, and to have a positive impact on the world. Their vision helped transform retail, and we’re still following their lead. We stand for freedom and possibility for all; we champion diverse ideas that transcend generations, geographies and genders.
