Job Description

Role summary

You lead the end-to-end design-to-delivery function for premium gifting and packaging projects. Your main responsibility is not “doing everything,” but making high-quality judgment calls across design feasibility, materials, finishing, timelines, supplier choices, production sequencing, QC standards, and trade-offs under pressure — then aligning the team and vendors to deliver.

Decision ownership (what you are ultimately accountable for)

You are the final internal decision-maker (before Founder sign-off where required) on:

• Material + process selection (what we make it from, how we fabricate it)
• Feasibility (what is realistic within budget/timeline/quality)
• Sample approval readiness (what passes internal standard before client)
• Production strategy (batching, resequencing, parallel workstreams)
• Quality standard & acceptance criteria (what is acceptable / not acceptable)
• Supplier selection and escalation strategy
• Assembly workflow plan (line setup, manpower, cycle time assumptions)

Key responsibilities

1) Judgment-led product translation (design → buildable reality)

• Translate creative intent into production truth: tolerances, fit, structure, finishing, and premium feel.
• Spot issues early (the “0.5cm matters” mindset): alignment, reveal lines, closure feel, insert fit, protection, and durability.
• Decide what must be fixed now vs what can be managed later without compromising brand outcome.

2) Lead team execution across the chain

• Set clear briefs, outputs, and standards for your team: 
• spec sheets/BOM, timelines, vendor trackers, sample logs, QC checklists
• Coach team members to think in risks, dependencies, and quality gates.
• Run weekly cadence: project reviews, risk log, supplier performance, and delivery confidence.

3) Luxury-level standards & sample governance

• Define and enforce “premium standard” in measurable terms (finish, alignment, cleanliness, scratch control, packaging integrity).
• Own sample journey: prototype → pre-production sample → golden sample → production sign-off.
• Ensure change control: every revision has impact assessed (cost/time/risk) and documented.

4) Supplier orchestration & curveball management

• Build supplier strategies that protect timeline and quality (primary/backup, process split, capacity planning).
• Handle urgent shifts (earlier delivery, changes) with workable options: 
• batching shipments, partial completion sequencing, pre-kitting, parallel processing, capacity negotiation
• Escalate decisively, without damaging long-term supplier relationships.

5) Production & assembly planning (scalable delivery)

• Convert product builds into step-by-step workflows: 
• stations, cycle time assumptions, manpower plan, WIP buffer, QC gates
• Decide what to pre-assemble vs final-assemble, and what should be vendor-completed vs in-house.
• Reduce rework and handling damage through jigs, standard packing methods, and SOPs.

6) Quality system ownership

• Build QC criteria that are objective and repeatable across projects and vendors.
• Implement QC gates (inbound materials, pre-assembly, final QC, pre-shipment).
• Lead root-cause correction with suppliers and internal team; prevent recurrence.

Leadership expectations

• Lead with clarity: your team should always know “what good looks like” and what matters most.
• Set a culture of precision + pace: premium quality without paralysis.
• Build repeatable systems (templates, SOPs, approval gates) so the team can scale output.

What success looks like (outcomes)

• Fewer last-minute surprises because feasibility and risks are called early.
• Consistent premium finishing across suppliers and batches.
• Faster sample approvals with fewer revision loops.
• On-time deliveries achieved through smart sequencing and supplier strategy (not heroics).
• Lower rework/defect rate due to clear QC standards and process control.

Job Requirements

Requirements (profile that fits)

Typical backgrounds that work well:

• Packaging / Product Development (premium consumer goods / beauty / electronics)
• Retail VM Production / Creative Production (fabrication-heavy, premium finishes)
• Event fabrication / exhibition build production lead (multi-material, fast turnaround)
• Manufacturing ops / industrial engineering (if paired with strong aesthetic sensitivity)

Must-haves:

• Proven leadership in cross-functional delivery (team + vendors)
• Strong materials/process knowledge (wood, acrylic, textiles/felt, paper/rigid box, printing/finishes)
• High judgment under pressure: can make trade-offs without compromising brand standard
• Strong documentation discipline (specs, BOM, QC standards, timelines)
• Supplier management strength (negotiation, escalation, accountability)

Skills