Head of Product Development | Accessories

Westwing

JOIN OUR TEAM As a Team Lead/Head of Product Design, you’ll drive the creative vision for our most diverse categories within accessories: Deco, Tabletop, Home Textiles, Rugs, Kids, and Bathroom. You will bring innovative design, trend-setting creativity, and strategic product development to the role, playing a pivotal role in shaping the Westwing Collection by ensuring a seamless blend of style, quality, and sustainability. This position is permanent and based in Munich. WHAT YOU'LL DO * Lead the in-house Accessory Design Team in creating on-trend and visually appealing products * Manage the design pipeline, fostering strong collaboration with all development teams * Conduct trend research to support design and collection growth, leveraging AI and automation when applicable * Drive product development with an emphasis on premium design, quality, sustainability, and materials to build an outstanding Westwing Collection portfolio in your category * Foster an innovative and problem-solving culture within the product design team * Effectively communicate and convey creative visions to both internal and external stakeholders * Demonstrate strong business acumen to align creative decisions with assortment strategies  YOU COME WITH * 8+ years of experience in product design and development, with a strong track record in portfolio creation and deep expertise in materials, manufacturing, and sustainability * Proven leadership experience, with a track record of guiding and mentoring creative teams * In-depth knowledge of industry trends, brands, and IP, coupled with a passion for design * Strong business acumen with an entrepreneurial mindset * Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills * A hands-on attitude and experience in a fast-paced, international environment * Fluency in English WHY WESTWING If you are looking for a place where ambition meets creativity, where ideas turn into impact fast, and where people are trusted to grow - you have found it. At Westwing, we’re building the Superbrand in Design with a team that’s shaping the future of beautiful home & living. Here is what you can look forward to: * A high-performance culture built on trust, feedback and collaboration * An inspiring, international environment that empowers you to think big, take ownership, and grow beyond your comfort zone * A flexible hybrid setup with 3 office days per week - because strong connections and quick collaboration make great ideas happen * Work-from-anywhere opportunities for up to 4 weeks per year - as fresh perspectives spark bold ideas * 30 days of paid holiday to rest, recharge, and come back ready to create * A beautiful, centrally located, dog-friendly office with inspiring spaces, a sunny terrace, and good food - designed for moments that energise and connect * Exclusive discounts - 40% off Westwing Collection, 20% off third-party brands (each on non-reduced items), 10% Family & Friends discount, plus special-occasion vouchers * Wellbeing support through mental health resources, sports memberships, and preventive care * Sustainable mobility options with discounted public transport and JobRad - moving with purpose and care for the planet * Support for working parents, including our on-site Westwing Wichtel daycare and a partnership with multilingual provider Elly & Stoffl * One annual Social Impact Day to give back to a cause you care about - because being human is our true superpower * Team rituals that celebrate results and togetherness - from Movie Nights and Oktoberfest to Summer & Winter Parties ABOUT US Westwing, Europe’s #1 in Beautiful Living e-commerce, is present in 20+ European countries and achieved a GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) of EUR 507 million in 2025. As Europe’s premium one-stop destination for Design Lovers, it offers a unique brand experience with a carefully curated assortment of the Westwing Collection and 3rd party design brands. The integrated platform combines Shop, Daily Specials, Stores, the B2B Service (Westwing Business) and the Westwing Design Service. Westwing’s team works together on its shared purpose to “Excite people to create homes that unlock the full beauty of life”. Founded in 2011, Westwing is headquartered in Munich and went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in October 2018. Our team is a diverse group of professionals aiming for high performance, working together at a fast pace in an inspiring, international and informal environment that enables you to grow your career while working with a brand and products our customers love. We’re made up of passionate people who are creative enough to disrupt the status quo, brave enough to fail and smart enough to win. So come, be part of the “wow, you work at Westwing?” crowd. Diversity is deeply rooted in our culture. Our mission doesn’t stop to inspire only your design choices, it continues to embrace an inclusive lifestyle filled with respect to everyone’s uniqueness, cultural differences and equal opportunity. DEPARTMENT Design & Creative

Polène

Founded in 2016, the French leather goods house Polène stands out for its exceptional craftsmanship, creating timeless pieces with organic designs directly inspired by nature. In a context of strong growth and international expansion, we are structuring our activities in 2026 and surrounding ourselves with top talent to build deep expertise at every level of our organization. Our resolutely artistic positioning reflects the elevation of our range of handbags and jewelry, supported by 800 artisans working in our Spanish ateliers in Ubrique. The story of Polène can be written with you: join us and contribute to this journey behind the scenes of our Paris headquarters, which already brings together over 200 people passionate about our craft.     Within the Collection Team   Within the Collection team, you will join a team of 14 people and report directly to our Head of Collection. You will be responsible for contributing to the development and management of our exceptional projects collections (collaborations, limited editions, upcycling initiatives, etc.) as well as our small leather goods and charms collections. 1. Product Development Management * Ensure operational follow-up and management of product development in collaboration with the Design, Sourcing, and Workshop teams (Paris and Spain). * Oversee prototype and sample tracking with workshops and suppliers (receipt, inventory, labeling, photography, etc.). * Manage the development of bag components (metal hardware, cords, and other accessories). * Create technical product sheets for each prototype received, highlighting required modifications in coordination with the Design and Workshop teams. * Update product specifications and bills of materials by collecting information from suppliers and workshops within the dedicated ERP system, ensuring data accuracy and reliability. * Support the sourcing of components, new suppliers, and manufacturers. * Manage and track press, image, and retail sample sets, coordinating product logistics for photoshoots, PR activities, and related projects with internal teams. * Conduct trend analysis, competitive benchmarking, and market research. * Monitor the performance of existing products. 2. Operational Management * Organize collection meetings and validation committees. * Act as the daily point of contact for internal teams and suppliers/manufacturers. * Coordinate communication between internal teams and external partners, ensuring smooth information flow throughout the development cycle and adherence to deadlines. * Update tracking tools, including timelines, collection plans, and project schedules. * Prepare cost sheets for each project. * Create and update PowerPoint presentations and supporting materials. * Produce product descriptions and presentation documents for other departments (training materials, etc.). * Contribute to the continuous improvement of collection tools and processes. * Produce regular progress reports on product developments as well as monthly reporting.     Our expectations   * You have at least 3 years of experience as a Product Manager, ideally within the leather goods or fashion industry. * You are comfortable coordinating projects and are proficient with the associated tools and software (knowledge of SAP is a plus). * You are highly organized, able to work effectively under tight deadlines, and enjoy collaborating within a team environment. * You are fluent in English and French, Spanish is a plus. * You have a strong affinity for the world of leather goods, craftsmanship, and artisanal excellence.   Our environment   * A 100% on-site experience within our newly renovated Paris offices, located on Rue du Louvre in the 2nd arrondissement, refurbished at the end of 2024. * A ClassPass wellness and fitness subscription. * Access to childcare networks People & Baby and Les Petits Chaperons Rouges. Legal benefits * 25 days of paid leave per year and 10,5 additional RTT days. * Alan health insurance, 60% covered by the company. * 50% reimbursement of your public transport pass or a sustainable mobility allowance of €40/month. * Swile meal vouchers worth €10 per working day.     At Polène, we are committed to ensuring inclusive recruitment processes and to selecting and promoting every candidate in an ethical and equitable manner.

On

IN SHORT: The global Operational Excellence team is looking for a Head of Business Process Excellence to lead our Idea-to-Product domain and Business Architecture team. We are seeking a visionary, data-driven leader to revolutionize our Creation processes. In this role, you will define next-generation digital capabilities - including advanced AI integration- while continuously optimizing our current workflows. You will lead a newly formed team of 5-7, acting as the primary business owner and strategic sparring partner for the Senior Leadership Team to drive operational excellence and chart our digital future. The Head of Business Process Excellence will report to the Senior Director for Operational Excellence, supporting Product Strategy, Innovation, Design, Development and Sourcing teams across Apparel & Accessories (A&A), and Footwear (FTW). YOUR MISSION: * Vision & Roadmap Development: Shape the future of our Idea-to-Product organization by defining and executing a long-term vision for our business processes, workflows, and digital capabilities. Act as the resident expert and visionary for integrating AI opportunities throughout the value chain. * Process Optimization & Digital Twin: Document current workflows and processes to identify optimization potential, while developing the "Northstar" setup for the future way of working across Apparel & Accessories (A&A) and Footwear (FTW). * Tech Partnership & Capability Delivery: Partner closely with the Technology team as the primary business owner and thought partner to design, gather requirements and align advanced business capabilities with strategic goals. * Operational Leadership & Decision Making: Act as the primary spokesperson for operational teams, taking critical trade-off decisions, managing the user base, and heading up a dedicated team covering the Idea-to-Product domain. * Business Architecture: Lead the business architecture team, taking end-to-end responsibility for mapping, scaling, and structuring organizational capabilities. * Stakeholder Engagement & Sparring: Manage high-level senior interactions and act as a trusted strategic sparring partner for the Senior Leadership Team across Product Strategy, Innovation, Design, Development, and Sourcing teams. * Enablement & Tool Adoption: Coordinate comprehensive training programs for new tools and capabilities, actively driving user adoption and operational excellence across teams. YOUR STORY: * Proven Leadership Experience: 10+ years of experience in business process management, digital transformation, or operational excellence, with a proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams, with experience managing 5+ direct reports preferred. * Team Architecture & Talent Leadership: Demonstrated success in the strategic recruitment and development of top-tier talent to build high-performing organizational units from scratch. * Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of the product development value chain (Idea-to-Product) and Creation processes, preferably within the Apparel, Accessories, or Footwear industries. * Tech & AI saviness:Technical affinity and a data-informed, problem-solving mindset, backed by deep business acumen and process expertise to help shape technology roadmaps and evaluate AI opportunities. * Strategic Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated experience influencing, collaborating with, and acting as a peer to C-suite and Senior Leadership Teams. * Change Management & Execution: Demonstrated capability in documenting complex workflows, executing gap analyses, driving tool adoption, and managing large-scale user training across cross-functional teams. * Academic Background: Degree or deep knowledge in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field with a strong focus on process mapping and capability maturity frameworks. ATTRIBUTES OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:  * Strategic Visionary: Ability to look past current constraints to design a digital "Northstar," for our future way of doing business, balanced with a pragmatic approach * Resilient Decision Maker: Comfortable navigating ambiguity, prioritizing conflicting demands, and making high-stakes trade-off decisions in a fast-paced environment. * Collaborative Influencer: A natural bridge-builder who can seamlessly speak the language of both deep-tech engineers and creative product operations teams. YOUR TEAM: As the Business Process Excellence team for the Idea-to-Product value stream, we define, manage, and optimize the workflows and technical capabilities that bring our innovative products to life. We are visionaries who are data-driven, action-oriented, and obsessed with challenging the status quo. Heading up a team of 5-7 domain experts, we work hand-in-hand with Product Strategy, Innovation, Design, Development, Sourcing, and Technology teams to champion future ways of working - ensuring our global growth is supported by cutting-edge AI, digital twins, and operational excellence.