Lead, Product Line Sales Support

Gildan•Winston-Salem, NC

47d

About The Position

The Lead, Product Line Sales Support manages the core wholesale product line development process. The role develops assortment frameworks and consumer-centered product briefs informed by knowledge of target consumers, specialty channels, competitors, market trends, product creation, and consumer and marketplace data. The position oversees key deliverables, deadlines, and milestones, and requires sound, timely decision-making, planning, organization, analytical ability, attention to detail, and strong communication and presentation skills. The successful candidate is expected to bring a strong interest in product, fashion, color, and decorating trends in wholesale and retail markets, and to influence, collaborate, and build consensus. The role provides product direction to development and design partners; manages calendar milestones from design briefs through product launches; and leads fast-track projects with accuracy and cross-organizational information sharing. It partners with manufacturing teams to identify opportunities to reduce product-level process complexity, provides direction in fit sessions based on knowledge of fit and construction, and supports junior team members in partnership with the Sr. Director. The position also helps ensure designs meet target costs and leadership-defined margin requirements. Additional responsibilities include analyzing product-line performance, maintaining style master data and product lifecycle governance, and preparing and delivering sales and customer presentations to key accounts, internal stakeholders, and wholesalers as needed. The role must navigate calendar priorities and address quality issues arising at the start of a season when inventory exists at both Gildan and a customer's distribution center.

Requirements

University degree.
5–7 years of experience.
Experience in the activewear industry, including printwear and/or vertical manufacturing experience.
General understanding of North American consumers, including their tastes, habits, preferences, interests, and behaviors.
Innovative and creative thinking about products and processes.
Creativity and passion for product.
Knowledge of knitwear, including tees, fleece, and polos, and how these products and their fabrics are constructed.
Challenger-brand mindset and ability to consider what comes next beyond the task at hand.
Excellent presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to navigate implicit language and cultural barriers.
Strong analytical abilities and critical-thinking skills.
Ability to build consensus, influence, and work collaboratively.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
Familiarity with managing up to executive leadership in person, verbally, and in writing.

Responsibilities

Provide briefs and frameworks with clear product direction and information for development and design partners.
Manage and execute designated calendar milestones from design brief through product launch.
Lead fast-track projects, ensuring accuracy and information sharing across the organization.
Partner with manufacturing teams to identify opportunities to reduce product-level process complexity.
Use understanding of fit and construction to provide direction in fit sessions.
Support the development of junior-level team members in partnership with the Sr. Director.
Ensure design teams understand and build to target costs that meet margin requirements set by leadership.
Analyze product-line performance, including add/drops, sell-in, sell-through, and monthly point-of-sale data.
Maintain and govern style master data and the product lifecycle.
Prepare and deliver sales and customer presentations internally and externally to key accounts, internal stakeholders, and wholesalers as needed.
Navigate development-calendar trade-offs when senior leadership prioritizes other businesses.
Direct responses to quality issues arising at the start of a season when inventory exists at Gildan and the customer's distribution center.