Product Developer

About the Role

We are seeking a highly driven Product Developer to support the execution and scaling of our product categories from concept through production. Partnering closely with design, sourcing, and production teams, you will bring innovative, high-quality products to market while ensuring development timelines, cost targets, and brand standards are met.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development Execution

- Own the product development process from concept through production across multiple product categories. - Translate design concepts into technically sound and commercially viable products. - Develop clear product specifications including materials, trims, construction methods, and functional requirements. - Anticipate development challenges early and proactively solve problems before they impact timelines or product quality. - Maintain a strong understanding of development calendars and key milestones to ensure deadlines are met. - Apply strong aesthetic judgment and product taste level to ensure product aligns with brand standards. - Utilize deep knowledge of fabric, construction, and fit to guide development decisions. - Review and evaluate prototypes and samples to ensure alignment with design intent, quality standards, and performance expectations. - Manage sample tracking, development timelines, and vendor communication across multiple programs.

Vendor & Factory Collaboration

- Partner with domestic and international vendors to develop prototypes, samples, and pre-production units. - Clearly communicate technical requirements and provide actionable feedback to factories. - Manage sample tracking, development timelines, and vendor communication across multiple programs. - Build strong relationships with factory partners to support efficient product development and execution.

Materials & Trim Development

- Source and evaluate fabrics, trims, hardware, and components that meet product and cost requirements. - Maintain strong knowledge of material performance, durability, and cost implications. - Identify opportunities to improve product through better materials or construction techniques. - Ensure all materials meet brand standards for quality and performance.

Cost & Margin Management

- Partner with sourcing teams and vendors to achieve target costs while maintaining product integrity. - Review vendor costing and identify opportunities for cost engineering when appropriate.

Timeline & Development Management

- Maintain development calendars and ensure key milestones are met across all product programs. - Maintain a clear understanding of the current product development timeline and identify creative ways to tighten the calendar to accelerate development while maintaining product quality. - Manage multi-category development calendars across multiple countries and vendors. - Work closely with the Fabric Manager, mills, and trim suppliers to ensure fabric development, lab dips, and trim approvals are completed on schedule. - Coordinate cross-functional teams across design, sourcing, and production to support on-time product launches. - Identify risks early and proactively address issues to keep development moving forward.

Quality & Production Readiness

- Evaluate samples for fabric, color, construction, durability, functionality, and overall product quality in collaboration with Design and TD. - Provide detailed technical feedback to vendors to refine product execution. - Approve production samples and ensure factories are prepared for bulk production. - Support production teams to ensure development approvals translate successfully into manufacturing.

Qualifications

- 6+ years of product development experience within apparel, accessories, or consumer products. - Experience developing soft goods across all categories, apparel, accessories and bags. - Strong understanding of fabrics, trims, hardware, and construction techniques. - Experience working with overseas vendors and global manufacturing partners. - Ability to provide clear visual and technical comments to vendors. - Strong organizational and project management skills. - Experience working with PLM systems and managing product data. - Proficiency in Excel and product development tools. - Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.