Director, Product Development - Denim

Department: Corp HO · Location: Denim Production Corp HO, El Segundo, CA (63001)

About the role

This role is responsible for leading the denim product development function, ensuring seasonal assortments are executed to True Religion’s standards for design, quality, timing, and cost. The Director is accountable for developing commercially viable product within established costing parameters and IMU targets while protecting the brand’s denim identity, and drives alignment across Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Sourcing, and Production to improve decision-making, execution, and speed to market. The ideal candidate will play a key role in building strong team leadership, vendor partnerships, and process discipline, and contribute to True Religion’s continued growth by driving margin performance across the denim business.

Responsibilities

• Lead Product Development: Oversee the end-to-end denim product development process from initial concept through production handoff, ensuring products meet True Religion’s quality, fit, construction, and aesthetic standards while balancing cost, manufacturability, and speed to market.
• Costing & Margin Accountability: Own the denim costing process, ensuring all products are developed within True Religion’s established costing parameters and IMU targets. Proactively identify costing challenges and drive solutions without compromising design intent or quality.
• Denim Expertise & Innovation: Apply deep expertise in fabrics, washes, finishes, trims, and construction to drive product innovation while ensuring commercial feasibility within True Religion’s costing requirements.
• Vendor Management & Negotiations: Expand and strengthen the denim vendor base by introducing and onboarding cost-competitive manufacturing partners that meet True Religion’s costing parameters, quality standards, and production requirements. Lead vendor negotiations to secure cost, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Development Calendar & Execution: Own and manage seasonal development calendars, ensuring key milestones, sample approvals, costing deadlines, and production handoffs are achieved on time. Proactively identify risks and drive corrective actions to prevent delays.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Production, and Sourcing to align on product expectations, costing, development priorities, and timelines. Drive timely decisions and ensure accountability across teams.
• Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency: Identify opportunities to strengthen development processes, improve costing accuracy, eliminate inefficiencies, and drive faster, more effective execution across the denim business.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop the denim product development team, including the Product Development Manager and Wash Manager, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards while building a collaborative, solutions-oriented team.
• Strategic Planning & Business Partnership: Partner with Sourcing leadership to support seasonal business objectives, identify opportunities for margin improvement, strengthen vendor capabilities, and continuously improve product development performance.

Requirements

• 10+ years of denim product development experience, including 2–4+ years in a leadership role
• Expert knowledge of denim fabrics, washes, finishes, trims, and construction
• An established network of denim factory contacts and proven manufacturer relationships that can be introduced and onboarded at True Religion
• Proven track record of developing product within costing parameters and IMU targets
• Demonstrated success managing seasonal development calendars and delivering milestones on time
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing product development teams
• Strong vendor negotiation and relationship management skills
• Ability to partner cross-functionally and drive timely decisions in a fast-paced environment

Preferred qualifications

• Experience developing both men’s and women’s fashion denim programs
• Experience with global vendor networks and denim wash development
• Familiarity with costing analysis, IMU reporting, and product lifecycle systems

Pay

Anticipated base salary range: $150,000 – $180,000. This is a full-time, exempt position. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, knowledge, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Health benefits
• 401(k) with employer match
• Merchandise discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Wellness & employee assistance programs

Schedule

Based in El Segundo, CA. Initially requires five days per week in the office to support onboarding, team integration, and cross-functional collaboration. Following the initial transition period, the role moves to a hybrid model of four days per week in the office and one remote day, with an expectation of in-office presence on designated days to support collaboration and business needs.