Bridal Merchandiser/PD Director

The Bridal Merchandiser leads product development for SDC Designs LLC's bridal division, one of the largest jewelry wholesalers in the United States. This is a customer-facing, trend-driven role that sits at the intersection of design vision and commercial execution. The Bridal Merchandiser manages the full product development process from trend identification and concept through CAD, sampling, and final production across key bridal categories including engagement rings, bridal sets, diamond bands, and men's diamond bands. This person brings a deep understanding of the bridal market, customer needs, and white space opportunities, and works directly with overseas factories and designers to bring product to life. Experience in bridal jewelry and a genuine passion for the category are required. Key Responsibilities Bridal Product Development: Own the full PD process for bridal categories including engagement rings, bridal sets, diamond bands, and men's diamond bands from initial trend and concept through CAD, sampling, and production-ready samples. Trend Identification and Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of bridal trends, design movements, and competitive activity. Identify white space in the market and translate insights into actionable product opportunities that meet customer and consumer needs. Customer-Facing Development: Run product development calls with retail and wholesale customers. Listen carefully to their feedback, brand direction, and category needs, and convert those conversations into clear product briefs and development priorities. CAD and Sampling Oversight: Partner closely with CAD designers and sampling teams to ensure designs are executed accurately and efficiently. Review and approve CAD renderings and physical samples with a keen eye for bridal aesthetics, technical accuracy, and quality. Factory and Designer Collaboration: Work directly with overseas factories and designers to develop and refine product. Communicate clearly on design intent, construction details, materials, and timelines to ensure alignment from concept to finished sample. Proprietary Line Development: Contribute to building and growing SDC's own bridal product line by pushing into new techniques, finishes, and design directions that differentiate our offerings in the market. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Account Management, Sales, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless handoffs and on-time delivery from concept through production. Organization and Process Management: Maintain tight timelines, tracking systems, and reporting across all active bridal development projects so that every stakeholder has clear visibility into status and next steps. Quality and Brand Standards: Ensure all products developed meet SDC's standards for craftsmanship, quality, and consistency within the bridal category. Requirements Deep knowledge of bridal jewelry trends, design aesthetics, and category-specific consumer expectations Hands-on experience with CAD and the sampling process, with the ability to review and provide detailed feedback at each stage Proven experience managing product development across bridal categories, including engagement rings, bridal sets, diamond bands, and men's diamond bands Strong understanding of the bridal market, customer needs, and the ability to identify and develop into white space opportunities Experience working directly with overseas factories and designers, with the ability to communicate design direction and technical specifications clearly and effectively Experience leading customer-facing product development; comfortable engaging with major retail and wholesale partners Excellent communication and presentation skills Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple development projects across accounts simultaneously Collaborative by nature, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams toward shared goals Experience in and a passion for jewelry, particularly in the bridal space, is required Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity) Short Term & Long-Term Disability Training & Development #J-18808-Ljbffr