Product Development Assistant

At Burberry, we believe creativity opens spaces. Our purpose is to unlock the power of imagination to push boundaries and open new possibilities for our people, our customers and our communities. This is the core belief that has guided Burberry since it was founded in 1856 and is central to how we operate as a company today.  

We aim to provide an environment for creative minds from different backgrounds to thrive, bringing a wide range of skills and experiences to everything we do. As a purposeful, values-driven brand, we are committed to being a force for good in the world as well, creating the next generation of sustainable luxury for customers, driving industry change and championing our communities.

Reporting to the Senior PD Manager, the Product Development Assistant is responsible for supporting the product development process for Leather Goods category by working closely with PD collegues and designers to develop each category from initial concept through to finished product.. This person will connect with the Prototyping & Modelling Manager to observe the operational activities, the capabilities and timeline of the technical work.

• Collaborate with the Senior Product Development Manager and Design team to support material sourcing, development, and prototyping for assigned product categories
• Communicate with suppliers and manage daily follow-ups on prototyping and raw material development to ensure timely progress
• Coordinate prototype and sample creation, working closely with Supply Chain, Merchandising, and Vendors to meet quality and timeline requirements
• Manage sampling technical packs, ensuring accurate data entry and updates in PLM or alternative systems
• Perform general administrative tasks to support the Product Development department's operations
• Facilitate direct interaction with the Design team, ensuring alignment on product specifications and creative direction
• Prepare technical sheets for modeling and create cost sheets to support accurate costing and production planning
• Collaborate with Designers and Product Development team to select and propose new workmanship techniques
• Oversee workmanship processes, addressing supplier issues and ensuring compliance with technical standards
• Work with the Technical Manager to align technical and timing requirements with supplier capabilities
• Report development progress to the Product Development Manager, including communications with design, technical, and engineering teams
• Support the Industrialization team in resolving technical production issues related to workmanship
• Assist in signing off workmanship masters to initiate the production process 
• Processing the correct order of raw materials for prototypes and samples
• Updating the PLM System
• Manage the pass-off of samples products to the Industrialization department with specific validation
• Respect the financial budget foreseen for the season.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree preferred; strong academic background in fashion or product development
• 3–5 years of proven product development experience within the luxury/fashion industry
• Familiarity with PLM/CIMS systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Passion for product design and development with strong commercial awareness
• Results-driven, analytical, and detail-oriented with ability to provide accurate data
• Excellent communication skills; fluent in Italian and English 
• Collaborative team player with proactive, inquisitive, and adaptable mindset
• Ability to multi-task and manage priorities effectively while upholding brand values and social responsibility

Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.

Posting Notes: Italy || Not Applicable || Florence || INTERNAL MANUFACTURING || BURBERRY MANIFATTURA || n/a ||