Technical Product Manager — Small Leather Goods
Chanel is recruiting a Technical Product Manager — Small Leather Goods in Paris (contract). Lead technical development and industrialization for leather accessory collections.
Overview
Chanel is an iconic, family-controlled luxury fashion and accessories house known for its haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods and bespoke savoir-faire. As an employer, Chanel emphasizes artisanal craftsmanship, rigorous product excellence and close collaboration between design ateliers and production teams across Paris and its global workshops.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead technical development and industrialization of small leather goods collections from prototype to production launch.
- Produce and maintain detailed technical packs, spec sheets and construction documentation for each model.
- Coordinate prototype development, fittings and technical validations with design, patternmakers and ateliers.
- Manage relationships with internal workshops and external suppliers to ensure compliance with quality, timeline and cost targets.
- Drive problem-solving on fit, construction, materials and assembly methods; recommend design-for-manufacture adjustments.
- Monitor production follow-up, quality control, testing and non-conformance resolution through pre-series and mass production.
- Maintain product technical database and ensure traceability of components, trims and leathers across collections.
Qualifications
- Professional experience in technical product development or industrialization within luxury leather goods or accessories.
- Strong knowledge of leather construction, patternmaking fundamentals and accessory manufacturing processes.
- Proven ability to translate design intent into manufacturable products, with attention to seams, edgework and hardware integration.
- Excellent organizational skills with a track record of managing multiple projects to tight seasonal deadlines.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across design, sourcing, quality and production teams.
Skills
Experience
Typically 3–6 years in technical/product development or industrialization for small leather goods or luxury accessories, with hands-on exposure to prototype creation, supplier management and production launches at a premium brand or atelier.
Education
Degree or diploma in fashion design, industrial/product design, materials engineering or equivalent professional experience in leather goods development.
Culture
Chanel fosters a culture of meticulous craftsmanship, discretion and creative excellence. Teams operate in a highly collaborative environment where artisanal techniques meet industrial rigour, and employees are expected to uphold the brand's exacting standards while contributing practical solutions.