Product Development Manager, Personalization
Away is seeking a highly organized Personalization Manager. This role focuses on driving personalization efforts across product categories, including digital printing, foil stamping, engraving, and embroidery and building the roadmap for new program personalization. More importantly, you will build relationships throughout the organization and represent the company and brand in line with our culture. You will act as an extension of the wider Product Development team. You maximize productivity for the work you do as well as our external personalization vendor base. This role will report to the Sr Director of Product Development and is based at our HQ in SoHo, NYC.
What you’ll do:
- Oversee the development and qualification of personalization techniques with internal teams and external vendors
- Point of contact for PSN development SOPs to qualify quarterly/ seasonal products and maintain ownership of files for qualified product library.
- Maintain ongoing communication with vendors and internal teams ensuring timely development of techniques in alignment with Critical Path
- Troubleshoot with vendors and communicate informed recommendations for process improvements or changes to internal teams
- Coauthor and align a training program for all qualified PSN techniques for new machine operators ensuring standards can be kept at external vendors
- Create future roadmap for personalization focusing on new product needs and PSN techniques
- Partner closely with Away’s Business Development team on Corporate Gifting requests
- Facilitate day-to-day communications with vendors and manufacturing partners / key role in building strong and trusted relationships
Who you are:
- Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally to our PSN vendors
- Have 3-4 years of full-time experience as a Sr Associate or Associate Manager working directly with personalizable product, preferably in a role interacting directly with PSN techniques.
- Technical skills to manage the functioning of the digital printer, embroidery machine, laser engraving machine and/or foil stamping machines for consumer goods or similar personalization services a big plus
- Has strong fabric and material knowledge
- Experience with color management a plus
- Experience with Photoshop and graphic digitization for embroidery procedures a plus
- Enjoys working autonomously on projects and able to share out at a high and detailed level when required.
- Demonstrates ability to juggle and prioritize multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and successfully while staying extremely organize
- Possess strong project management skills: one who thinks ahead and anticipates needs—you’re never satisfied with the status quo, always thinking “how can we do this better?”
- Hard working with a "no task is too small" attitude
- Operates as a “partner” / in it together and naturally builds relationships with internal teams and external manufacturing partners
- Adhere to confidentiality and sensitive information protocols
- Enjoy working in a fast-paced and energetic environment
- A passionate ambassador of the brand
- You love to travel (but that’s a given!)
- You can show proof of COVID-19 vaccination & adherence to HQ COVID office policies using Bindle, a secure platform that verifies vaccination status without sharing private health information, within 30 days of hire
You’ll love working at Away because:
- We travel. We encourage you to take time to recharge outside of the office. You’ll have generous PTO to explore new places and access to Away products to ensure your travels are seamless. And once you’re here for three years, you’ll earn a sabbatical and a bonus to take a well-deserved trip.
- We’re not just employees. We’re people. We offer insurance coverage (health, vision, and dental), tax savings plans for retirement, dependent care, commuter benefits, generous and inclusive parental leave, and a kitchen stocked with organic snacks and coffee.
- We’ll invest in your career. Our company’s growing quickly, and we’ll give you the opportunity to do the same. You’ll have access to a number of professional development opportunities so that you can keep up with the company’s evolving needs.
- We’re creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Our customers are global and diverse, so we’re building a team that is, too. Through initiatives like our employee resource groups, our new office in downtown Manhattan, and more, we’re building the cultural foundation that gives people the emotional and physical space to bring their best selves to work.
- We offer competitive compensation packages. We deeply value the talent our team brings to the table, and believe that fair and equitable total compensation packages are part of our commitment to everyone who works here.
- And so much more…! You can bring your dog to work. We organize ways to give back to our local communities.
About Away:
Away is a global lifestyle brand with a mission to transform travel through products and content that inspire people to get away more. The company launched in 2016 with one perfectly designed carry-on and has since expanded to offer an array of luggage and travel essentials built for the modern traveler. Headquartered in New York City, with teams in London and Toronto, Away currently ships products to over 35 countries around the world. Away has been named one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” and has been recognized on TIME’s list of “Best Inventions.” To learn more, visit awaytravel.com.
EEO Statement:
Away is dedicated to hiring a diverse workplace that celebrates an inclusive culture and a sense of belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information or disability.
Away is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].