Decorative Fabric Product Development Associate

ONSITE POSITION: Fort Lauderdale, FL (not remote)

SUMMARY: The position is sources and recommends hospitality fabrics matching customer requirements and proactively seeks the opportunity to exceed product innovation, quality expectations, want dates, and budgets. Collaborates with Valley Forge’s Supply Chain, Project Management, Textile Design, Print Team, Sales Team, Quality Assurance Team, Production Team, and Testing Team to develop high-quality contract textile and fabricated products based on customers’ design intents, industry trends, and budgets for hospitality design projects, while focusing on building strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring timely sample development and consistently exceeding internal and external customer expectations by performing the following duties:

Duties And Responsibilities

• Sourcing & Product Development
• Collaborates with Pre and Post-Sales Departments for successful completion of project opportunities to meet project timelines.
• Engages with Project Management and Sales team to understand customer’s design intent, purchasing budget, and sample feedback for thorough product development, with a focus on customers’ expectations for quality, lead time, and pricing.
• Engages Textile Design Team to prepare artwork as a part of the needed elements for development of the product.
• Beginner/Intermediate understanding of WeaveUp technology for custom printed fabrics.
• Engages VFF In House Print Team for development and sampling of printed products, including sourcing and development of base cloths if needed.
• Engages with VFF supply chain through preparation of mill requests by reviewing yarn types, constructions, capabilities, and costing to determine supplier suitability per project and always considering end-use and the potential for VFF to upsell a product.
• Engages Project Management and Account Managers to gain and analyze customer’s design intent, purchasing budget, and sample feedback for thorough product development, with a focus on customers’ expectations for quality, lead time, and pricing.
• Continuously meets SLA by using analytics to drive decisions and timing of follow up of development of products.
• Manages suppliers to expedite sampling and production lead times by providing descriptive details and solutions in order to achieve optimal results to meet customer requirements. The customer shouldn’t ever have to ask where a sample is or when it’s coming.
• Analyzes supply chains’ capacities to prioritize mill requests.
• Continuous follow up and ownership of requests on individual projects through engagement with supply chain via email and weekly calls.
• Engages Testing Team to ensure that the product meets the project and industry standards.
• Excellent negotiation skills to obtain best pricing from suppliers in order to achieve the best margin for the projects.
• Seeks out further training in textile technical capabilities in order to enhance knowledge.
• Participates in cleanup of sample room and sourcing area as scheduled.
• Complete cases and tasks within defined SLA outlined.
• Develops solutions and collaborates with internal customers to resolve any issues pertaining to development delays.
• Analyze and review industry trends to assist in the recommendation of product categories offered.
• Always embodies VFF core values.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.
  
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from four-year college or university, or one to two years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Computer skills required: (Microsoft Office; Inventory Software; CRM Software – i.e. Salesforce)
• Other skills strongly preferred: Background in textiles, fabricated products, and sourcing.
  
  
  

COMPETENCIES:

• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively and positively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Design - Generates creative solutions; Translates concepts and information into images; Uses feedback to modify designs; Applies design principles; Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
  
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIORNMENT:

• Will travel as needed (:3-4 times per year) to textile shows, fabricators and/or mills as research and analysis of supplier capabilities.
• Frequently required to stand
• Frequently required to walk
• Frequently required to sit
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Continually required to talk or hear
• Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception and ability to adjust focus
  
  
  

EEO Statement:

Valley Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer qualify applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, sex, gender identity, religion, alienage, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.