Director of Product & Manufacturing Operations

KREWE is an independent high-fashion eyewear company inspired by the creativity and spirit of New Orleans, our hometown. Since launching in 2013 the brand has continued to grow and evolve with an extensive offering of unique, hand-crafted sun and optical frames designed in New Orleans and crafted with the utmost attention to detail. In addition to four brick & mortar locations, 12 "Tiny House" concept stores, and a robust ecommerce business the brand is also available at many notable retailers such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and shopbop. KREWE's unique approach to eyewear has created a cult-following amongst consumers and influencers alike. Our frames have appeared in publications from GQ to VOGUE and on celebrities such as Beyonce, Gigi Hadid, Meghan Markle, Carrie Underwood, Hailey Bieber, Zayne Malik, Scott Disick, Adam Huber, among others.As the business grows, we are seeking smart, creative, and experienced individuals to join our talented team! Key attributes and qualities we are looking for in candidates for all open roles: entrepreneurial spirit, innovative and solution-oriented, adaptable and resilient, best-practices methodology, team-oriented with a lean-in attitude, highest standards for execution, and a high level of accountability.We are bringing more great products to market everyday and are looking for a Director of Product and Manufacturing Operations to elevate the department from concept to market execution. This position is based at our New Orleans headquarters and requires a strategic and results-driven leader with experience working in Product Management and with overseas manufacturing partners. This position will be fully responsible for ensuring the T&A calendar milestones are met. Key Responsibilities:Ownership of T&A Calendar and Product Manufacturing Process: Assume full ownership of our end-to-end manufacturing process, validating cross-functional deliverables from design, sourcing, planning, and marketing to ensure that our manufacturing process is efficient. Validate current timelines and identify areas for improvement.Project Management Leadership: Lead frequent project management meetings; ensure that production plans and schedules are met and that products are delivered on time and within budget.Support Product Design Priorities: Align weekly product development priorities with overall business goals. Reporting and KPI Achievement: Proactively monitor and communicate team adherence to company KPIs. Elevate reporting suite to be more robust and less manual. Communication Leadership: Spearhead communications amongst the KREWE Design Team, overseas KREWE development and production, and 3rd Party Manufacturers to obtain regular updates and status per the project milestones.Team Development: Manage and grow the Project Management and Product Management teams.Operational Excellence: Drive strategies to achieve operational excellence, optimizing workflow and resource utilization. Monitor operational performance, identify areas for enhancement, and implement solutions that drive efficiency and quality in all aspects of the operation.Technology Integration: Oversee the integration and optimization of technology within operations. Evaluate and implement technological advancements that improve process efficiency, enhance product quality, and drive innovation.Production Planning: Develop and manage comprehensive production planning strategies. Ensure these plans are robust, adaptive to changing demands, and executed with a focus on maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste.Special Requests: Handle special requests related to Product Design and Development as requested by the Creative Director or VP of Product.Requirements:This position is based in our New Orleans headquarters. A minimum of 7+ years managing product concept to market, with a strong background in Product Management, ideally in manufacturing operations.Experience working with manufacturing partners in China and/or SE Asia.Demonstrated ability to interface with a wide range of functional areas, including creative, design, manufacturing, and familiarity with manufacturing and production concepts.Ability to assimilate large amounts of information and identify patterns, risks, and trends.Strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.Highly proficient in Project Management Tools (smartsheet, Monday.com, etc), Netsuite, and Microsoft Excel.Proven track record of strategic leadership in a corporate setting.Benefits and Perks:Competitive wageGroup health plans: health, vision and dental insuranceWelfare benefits: life, ad&d, supplemental voluntary coverage FSA Plan & HSA Program 401(K) Investment OptionsAdoption Assistance, EAP, Commuter BenefitsPaid Parental Leave Quarterly Cultural SpendOngoing Training & Development, an Educational Allowance10 paid holidays & Paid Time Off accrualKREWE employee frame discount (of course!)Diversity & Inclusion: KREWE believes in providing an inclusive workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without discrimination or retaliation because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic as established by applicable local, state, or federal law.