Senior Production Manager (footwear)

About the role

Centric Brands is seeking a highly experienced and hands-on Senior Production Manager (Slippers & Footwear) to lead end-to-end product execution across our slipper and footwear categories. This role will oversee the product lifecycle from development through production, partnering closely with Design, Sales, Merchandising, Materials, and overseas factory teams to ensure products are commercially viable, on time, cost-effective, and built to quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Weed product development from concept through commercialization for slippers and footwear categories.
• Review and manage all stages of development including proto, fit, SMS, tooling, confirmation, and pre-production.
• Partner with Design and Merchandising to ensure products are commercially viable while maintaining brand aesthetic and target margins.
• Evaluate constructions, materials, outsole options, upper treatments, and packaging for both cost and functionality.
• Provide technical guidance on slipper and footwear construction, fit, comfort, durability, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Troubleshoot fit and wear-test issues and work with factories on corrective actions and improvements.
• Own and negotiate FOB costing with overseas factories and suppliers.
• Analyze material consumption, labor, tooling, molds, freight, duties, and packaging components to achieve target margins.
• Benchmark costs across multiple factory partners and regions to drive competitive pricing.
• Support open costing analysis and identify engineering/value opportunities without compromising quality.
• Maintain costing grids, margin recaps, and pricing summaries for internal stakeholders.
• Manage production lifecycle from PO issuance through final shipment.
• Monitor WIP, production status, factory capacity, and shipment timelines to ensure on-time delivery.
• Partner with overseas production and QA teams to proactively identify and resolve risks.
• Lead weekly production and status meetings with factories and cross-functional teams.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, testing standards, and quality expectations.
• Drive corrective action plans for quality or delivery issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with factory partners across Asia and/or nearshore regions.
• Evaluate vendor capabilities, capacities, and technical strengths.
• Support factory allocation strategy based on pricing, execution, quality, and speed.
• Travel to factories as needed for development reviews, production management, troubleshooting, and strategic initiatives.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Collaborate closely with Design, Sales, Planning, Logistics, and QA teams. Support process improvements and operational efficiencies across development and production workflows. Mentor and help develop junior team members and associates. Drive accountability, communication, and execution across global teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Fashion, Footwear Design, Product Development, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 8–12+ years of experience in footwear/slipper production and product development.
• Strong technical knowledge of slipper and footwear construction, materials, fit, tooling, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience managing costing, negotiations, and production calendars.
• Strong understanding of global sourcing and manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with overseas factories and cross-functional global teams.
• Strong Excel and costing analysis skills.
• Able to manage multiple programs and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage multiple programs and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Skills

• Technical knowledge of slipper and footwear construction, materials, fit, tooling, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of global sourcing and manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with overseas factories and cross-functional global teams.
• Strong Excel and costing analysis skills.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Benefits

At Centric Brands, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands through workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Pay

Salary Range: $95,000 - $125,000

Schedule

Our work environment reflects our industry leadership and includes a variety of flexible schedules to accommodate different lifestyles and preferences.