Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Product Development/Production Manager to oversee the product development and production process from initial concept through final production. This role will serve as a key liaison between Design, Technical Design, vendors, factories, Production, and internal management to ensure products are developed and produced on time, at the approved quality level, and within established cost targets.
The ideal candidate has strong experience in contemporary fashion, understands the full product lifecycle, is highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple brands, categories, vendors, and production calendars simultaneously.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development
- Manage the product development process from initial design handoff through prototype, SMS, and production.
- Review and track TPs, BOMs, measurements, construction details, fabrics, trims, and development requirements.
- Partner with Design to ensure product information is complete and accurate before development.
- Manage protos and SMS development, including sample status, comments, revisions, approvals, and deadlines.
- Coordinate fit sessions with Design and ensure comments are communicated to factories within established timelines.
- Ensure production BOMs are finalized only after fabric, color, trim, and other approvals are complete.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date product information in WFX , Momentis and other internal systems.
Costing & Vendor Management
- Work closely with vendors and factories to obtain development and production costing.
- Review FOB/DDP costing, fabric consumption, labor, trims, minimums, duties, tariffs, and other applicable costs.
- Ensure vendors are quoting based on approved production specifications and required quantities.
- Challenge cost increases and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising design intent or quality.
- Manage vendor negotiations regarding MOQ, pricing, lead times, development charges, and production requirements.
- Support sourcing and vendor allocation decisions based on capability, quality, pricing, capacity, and delivery requirements.
Production Management
- Manage the transition from development into production and ensure all production requirements are finalized before booking.
- Track production orders from placement through shipment.
- Monitor production calendars, approvals, fabric/trim readiness, cutting, sewing, finishing, inspections, and shipment.
- Identify potential production delays and proactively communicate risks and corrective actions.
- Partner with Production and Logistics to ensure goods ship according to the required delivery schedule.
- Review and resolve production issues, including quality, workmanship, quantity, delivery, and cost discrepancies.
- Ensure factories follow approved samples, TPs, BOMs, and quality standards.
Cross-Functional Communication
- Act as the primary point of contact between Design, PD, Technical Design, Production, vendors, and factories.
- Lead regular status updates and communicate key development and production risks to management.
- Establish clear priorities and follow up on outstanding actions across multiple teams.
- Ensure all teams are working from the latest approved information.
- Escalate issues requiring management approval, including significant cost changes, production delays, quality concerns, and vendor issues.
Systems & Reporting
- Maintain accurate product and production information in WFX/PLM and Momentis.
- Track development and production status against seasonal calendars.
- Prepare and maintain development, costing, production, and delivery reports.
- Ensure approved costing and production information is properly documented and available to the appropriate teams.
- Monitor key milestones and provide regular reporting to management.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in fashion product development, production, or product management.
- Strong understanding of the women's contemporary fashion market and product lifecycle.
- Experience working directly with overseas factories and vendors.
- Strong knowledge of apparel construction, fabrics, trims, costing, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience managing protos, SMS, production approvals, and delivery timelines.
- Strong costing and negotiation skills.
- Experience with PLM/product development systems; WFX or Momentis experience is a plus.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong organizational abilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple brands, categories, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues early and drive solutions.
- Willingness to work closely with international vendors across multiple time zones.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is hands-on, commercially minded, highly organized, and proactive. They understand both the creative and business sides of product development and can move comfortably between reviewing a technical package, negotiating a factory cost, troubleshooting a production issue, and communicating priorities to Design and senior management.
Key competencies: Product Development • Production • Costing • Vendor Management • Sourcing • PLM • Apparel Manufacturing • Negotiation • Calendar Management • Quality Control • Cross-Functional Leadership.