Serena & Lily, a lifestyle and home furnishings brand, is seeking a responsible and experienced individual who has direct and relevant experience managing product and package testing and compliance for home retail categories, including Furniture, Lighting, Decorative Accessories and Textiles. This is the perfect opportunity for a positive self-starter to make an impact and ensure the products we sell meet our high standards for quality, safety, and compliance.
You will manage all aspects of product testing, including report review, failure mitigation, lab management and test protocol development and updates, and be the bridge between our Testing labs, Vendors and Agents, and the internal business teams. The ability to apply testing concepts to the “real world” and explain and present technical subjects to a non-technical audience are critical skills for the role.
Additionally, you will be the Administrator for our online Vendor Operations Manual, managing updates and broadcasts to our Vendor and Agent community.
This position reports to the Manager of Product Quality and Compliance.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Testing Management
- Primary resource for Product and Package Testing consultation, recommendations, and training for internal and external teams.
- Testing Program – Manage the pre-production and final lab testing process to ensure pass test results.
- Manage testing costs – oversight, quote review and approval, invoice approval
- Provide new and ongoing vendor/agent training on testing responsibilities, tools, and processes.Address vendor questions on regulatory and safety testing requirements.
- Group Testing approval - First point of contact for Agents and vendors to review and approve grouping or component testing proposals.
- Test Failures – Provide notification, clarification and context for appropriate test methods and severity of failure results. Provide recommendations, ensure finalization and execution of CAP.
- Children’s Testing - Manage Children’s product testing compliance, including record keeping, follow up and documentation.
- Lab Management - Ensure labs are responding in a timely manner, support Sourcing so that no negative schedule or cost impact is created by test delays.
- Main point of contact for Intertek labs, manage lab performance, Interlink communication and tool needs, monthly reporting and annual review.
- Test Protocols - Manage S&L test protocols including identifying needs, new protocol development and updates to existing protocols.
- Provide Monthly reporting of S&L Testing costs, manage the invoice process to ensure timely processing.
- Establish and maintain process and document control
- Keep current and notify teams of upcoming regulatory changes, identify potential impact to the business and recommend product or process changes. Advise teams of Prop 65 warning applicability upon receipt of notice from vendors.
- Act as a technical resource and safety consultant to cross functional teams regarding appropriate statutory, regulatory, and product safety requirements. Provide education both internal and external as needed on product safety regulations.
Product and Packaging Compliance
- Internal resource for questions regarding product regulatory compliance and certification requirements.
- Partner with Sourcing to ensure noncompliance is corrected.
- Manage agent or vendor inquiries regarding new or existing item packaging compliance, including review, recommendations, and verification of improvements.
Vendor Operations Manual
- Administrator of the Vendor Operations Manual – manage updates and enhancements to the content and presentation of information.
- Manage all broadcast communication to the Agent and Vendor community and support rollout of new requirements.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 5 years’ experience in Consumer Product and Transit Testing, Compliance and Quality for a Retailer or Manufacturer
- In depth understanding of Product Performance, Safety and Regulatory standards and requirements, with a desire for continuous learning
- Strong analytical/problem solving/process improvement skills, with an approach that is thorough, organized and followed through to completion.
- Clear and effective communicator, fluent in all tools of communication, i.e., Outlook, Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Able to explain and present technical subjects to a non-technical audience.
- This role requires a high level of integrity and professionalism/professional maturity, must be able to manage sensitive information and maintain appropriate communication.
- Ability to work in person in Sausalito, CA (hybrid arrangement may be a possibility).Occasional visits to our Vacaville Distribution Center as needed.
- Knowledge of Product Packaging and Labeling standards and requirements a plus
- You are a proactive problem solver who operates effectively, even in areas of uncertainty and ambiguity
- You possess strong collaboration and relationship building skills
- Experience in the following systems/platforms a plus: Grovesite, Intertek/Interlink, NetSuite
COMPENSATION:
- $75-85k per year is the anticipated starting base pay for this role. This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this role. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: experience, education, and skills. Employees (and their families) are covered by medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance should they choose to participate in Serena & Lily’s benefits. Employees can enroll in our company’s 401k plan. During the first year of employment, full-time employees accrue twenty-one days of PTO and seven paid holidays throughout the year.
