Associate Manager, Product Development (Women's Apparel)

Reformation • Vernon, CA

25d • $75,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2.
Since 2009, we've been on a mission to bring sustainable fashion to everyone. Named one of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter and winning a Best Carbon Footprint award, we have big goals like being Climate Positive by 2025, Circular by 2030, and pushing the whole industry forward along the way. Our work has gotten love in Drapers and Sourcing Journal, and TIME wrote about how great our CEO, Hali Borenstein, is. Basically, we're saving the Earth and looking damn good doing it.
We're a global brand with 50+ stores (and counting) around the world, and our own sustainable factory in LA. We innovate across categories like accessories, swimwear, and sleepwear, and we reach millions of people with campaigns like this, this and this.
None of this work is possible without the incredible people behind it. We're a mission-based company that invests in an inclusive culture, so we can innovate together and ensure everyone has the space to grow, thrive, and belong.
And starting right now, we want to do all that with you.
The Role:
Work Location/ Schedule: 5 days/week in office, Vernon
What you’ll do:
Product Lifecycle Management & Execution
Own and drive the full apparel product development process, ensuring milestones are met across Product Development, Technical Design, and Production.
Track and proactively manage all development-related deliverables, including BOM accuracy, sample tracking, and approvals, to ensure styles are on schedule.
Ensure vendor scorecard KPIs (lead time, on-time development, and quality) are consistently met by holding vendors accountable and escalating issues as needed.
Lead exception management with vendors, analyzing root causes of delays and implementing solutions instead of merely reporting late timelines.
Vendor & Cost Management
Have a strong understanding of product cost structure and cost levers to support effective vendor negotiations, ensuring target margins and calendar timelines are met.
Manage cost sheets and ensure all pricing is updated accurately and on time, with justification for any cost increases or variances.
Partner with vendors to resolve costing and lead time challenges, ensuring strategic alignment between business needs and vendor capabilities.
Cross-Functional Communication & Accountability
Maintain real-time, accurate updates in all tracking systems (ERP, PLM, BOMs, WIPs) with full transparency for cross-functional partners.
Drive proactive and concise communication across teams (Design, Merchandising, Materials, Technical Design, Purchasing, Production) to ensure seamless execution.
Anticipate risks, clearly articulate challenges, and provide well-thought-out solutions when presenting updates to leadership.
Hold all teams accountable for deliverables by ensuring there is always clear next-step ownership, reducing unnecessary delays.
Process Adherence & Continuous Improvement
Demonstrate a strong understanding of all company systems and SOPs, adhering to structured processes without deviation.
Ensure all PLM/BOMs are correctly maintained in the shared system, with no missing data, inconsistencies, or offline tracking that could create gaps for cross-functional teams.
Attend daily fittings, capturing clear and actionable notes while following up without delay to ensure feedback is executed accurately.
Partner with the Production team weekly to confirm styles are production-ready and aligned with the factory’s capabilities.
Take ownership of all sample-related logistics, including tracking ETAs and ensuring samples are ready for fittings and approvals.
Management & Business Acumen
Plan, prioritize, and manage workload effectively, ensuring all deadlines are met without requiring excessive oversight.
Understand and work towards department financial goals, including top-line revenue and inventory objectives.
Exhibit a high level of ownership, following instructions precisely and ensuring tasks are completed the first time without repeated reminders.
Proactively surface opportunities for process improvement, vendor performance enhancement, and cost optimization.
Special Projects & Strategic Support
Support new vendor sourcing and onboarding to strengthen the supply base and improve cost and lead time efficiencies.
Take initiative in contributing to department objectives beyond day-to-day execution, supporting leadership in driving strategic initiatives.
Actively participate in business-critical meetings, demonstrating preparedness and contributing solutions rather than observations.
Key Performance Expectations
Zero tolerance for missed deadlines without proactive communication and a clear resolution plan.
Full compliance with data integrity and system updates—no offline tracking or incomplete information.
Effective cost management that contribute to margin improvement and lead time efficiency.
Strong vendor management with accountability for performance improvement, not just status updates.
Clear, concise, and action-driven communication across all teams, minimizing unnecessary back-and-forth.
Demonstrated ability to manage workload independently, escalating only when necessary and providing solutions along with concerns.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
• 3–5 years of apparel production experience with overseas manufacturing exposure.
• Strong knowledge of production WIPs, PO management, and PLM/ERP systems.
• Basic understanding of garment construction and technical knowledge of apparel manufacturing.
• Proven ability to operate independently, take ownership, and deliver results under tight deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills with high attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Strong communication skills—clear, concise, and action-driven with cross-functional teams and vendors.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Word or Google Sheets/Docs; ability to synthesize data to solve problems.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability with a proactive, solution-first mindset.
• Strong business acumen with understanding of cost, margin, and inventory objectives.
• Collaborative, hands-on approach with willingness to manage both strategic and administrative tasks.
• Ability to prioritize workload effectively, escalate when necessary, and always provide solutions alongside challenges.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the full apparel product development process, ensuring milestones are met across Product Development, Technical Design, and Production.
• Track and proactively manage all development-related deliverables, including BOM accuracy, sample tracking, and approvals, to ensure styles are on schedule.
• Ensure vendor scorecard KPIs (lead time, on-time development, and quality) are consistently met by holding vendors accountable and escalating issues as needed.
• Lead exception management with vendors, analyzing root causes of delays and implementing solutions instead of merely reporting late timelines.
• Have a strong understanding of product cost structure and cost levers to support effective vendor negotiations, ensuring target margins and calendar timelines are met.
• Manage cost sheets and ensure all pricing is updated accurately and on time, with justification for any cost increases or variances.
• Partner with vendors to resolve costing and lead time challenges, ensuring strategic alignment between business needs and vendor capabilities.
• Maintain real-time, accurate updates in all tracking systems (ERP, PLM, BOMs, WIPs) with full transparency for cross-functional partners.
• Drive proactive and concise communication across teams (Design, Merchandising, Materials, Technical Design, Purchasing, Production) to ensure seamless execution.
• Anticipate risks, clearly articulate challenges, and provide well-thought-out solutions when presenting updates to leadership.
• Hold all teams accountable for deliverables by ensuring there is always clear next-step ownership, reducing unnecessary delays.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of all company systems and SOPs, adhering to structured processes without deviation.
• Ensure all PLM/BOMs are correctly maintained in the shared system, with no missing data, inconsistencies, or offline tracking that could create gaps for cross-functional teams.
• Attend daily fittings, capturing clear and actionable notes while following up without delay to ensure feedback is executed accurately.
• Partner with the Production team weekly to confirm styles are production-ready and aligned with the factory’s capabilities.
• Take ownership of all sample-related logistics, including tracking ETAs and ensuring samples are ready for fittings and approvals.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage workload effectively, ensuring all deadlines are met without requiring excessive oversight.
• Understand and work towards department financial goals, including top-line revenue and inventory objectives.
• Exhibit a high level of ownership, following instructions precisely and ensuring tasks are completed the first time without repeated reminders.
• Proactively surface opportunities for process improvement, vendor performance enhancement, and cost optimization.
• Support new vendor sourcing and onboarding to strengthen the supply base and improve cost and lead time efficiencies.
• Take initiative in contributing to department objectives beyond day-to-day execution, supporting leadership in driving strategic initiatives.
• Actively participate in business-critical meetings, demonstrating preparedness and contributing solutions rather than observations.

Benefits

• Eligible employees get employer-sponsored private medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as commuter benefits to help support your travel to and from work.
• We offer competitive paid time off policies including vacation, sick leave, and company holidays for eligible employees.
• We offer retirement planning support for eligible employees, including the option to invest in Environmental Social Governance-aligned (fancy way to say sustainable) funds.
• We’re a mission-based company with offices in LA, NYC and London, as well as a global retail team, which means you’ll get to collaborate with people all around the world.
• You’ll get access to fertility care support through Carrot, and up to a $5,000 USD reimbursement for related fertility expenses after 1 year of employment.
• We care about the causes our employees care about so we donate to community efforts on a yearly basis.
• We offer a clothing discount, culture events (like our annual Ref Values week and Volunteer Time Off), you know, all the meaningful and fun stuff!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level