Manager, Product Development

Universal Music Group•Santa Monica, CA

About The Position

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. Famehouse, a division of UMG, is the preeminent leader in D2C solutions in music, defining & delivering the industry’s best-in-class service to connect artists with their fans. Established & headquartered in Philly, Famehouse powers D2C for UMG’s labels, artists, and Bravado, along with a select roster of 3rd party clients. Our success & culture is fueled by collaboration—both within FH and with our partners. We are passionate about the impact of D2C & merchandise for artists, providing a full-service solution to grow an artist’s owned business including strategy, creative, storefront merchandising, fulfillment, customer service, technology, and more. How we LEAD: We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Manager of Product Development to lead the development of artist merchandise collections across Live Events/Touring and eCommerce drops. This role sits at the front end of the business, partnering closely with Creative to ideate, develop, and execute product collections that align with artist vision, tour activations, and digital launches. The ideal candidate brings strong technical product development experience and thrives in a fast-paced, drop-driven environment where timelines are tied to album releases, tour dates, and cultural moments. This position will focus on printables, cut-and-sew apparel, and custom/domestic accessories, managing the full product lifecycle from concept through production handoff.

Requirements

3-5 years of product development experience in apparel and/or accessories.
Strong technical knowledge of printables, cut-and-sew construction, and accessory development.
Experience working within PLM systems and ERP platforms.
Proven ability to manage T&A calendars tied to hard launch dates.
Strong vendor sourcing and negotiation experience.
Financial acumen with experience reviewing P&Ls and setting retail pricing.
Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent launches in a fast-paced environment.
A product developer who is both creative-facing and operationally strong.
Someone who thrives in high-pressure tour and drop timelines.
A collaborative partner to Creative and cross-functional teams.
A commercially minded thinker who understands margin, pricing, and scalability.
A hands-on leader who owns details without losing sight of the bigger picture.

Nice To Haves

Experience in music merchandise, streetwear, entertainment, or drop-driven businesses preferred.

Responsibilities

Product Ideation & Creative Partnership Partner closely with Creative to ideate and develop new merchandise collections for artists.
Translate creative direction into executable product concepts across printables, cut-and-sew, and accessories.
Provide material, silhouette, and construction recommendations aligned with artist positioning and price architecture.
Support product strategy tied to tour activations and eCommerce drops.
Product Development Execution Manage development from concept through sample approval and production readiness.
Oversee material selection, trims, construction details, and print techniques.
Provide detailed fit comments and lead sample review sessions.
Track and manage samples to ensure on-time approvals.
Ensure product specs and tech packs are complete and accurate within PLM.
Vendor Sourcing & Allocation Source and onboard vendors across domestic and international markets.
Allocate styles based on vendor capabilities, speed, margin targets, and quality standards.
Lead vendor negotiations on costing, MOQs, timelines, and payment terms.
Build strong vendor relationships to support both quick-turn tour needs and planned eComm drops.
Timeline & Calendar Management Own and manage T&A calendars aligned to tour dates, album launches, and retail/eComm activations.
Anticipate and mitigate timeline risks in collaboration with Sourcing and Production teams.
Ensure cross-functional visibility into development milestones
Financial Ownership & Costing Establish target costing for all styles.
Conduct P&L reviews at the collection level.
Recommend retail price (RRP/MSRP) architecture based on margin goals and market positioning.
Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or creative intent.
Systems & Operational Excellence Maintain accurate product data within PLM throughout development.
Oversee ERP product setup inputs, ensuring costing, specs, and timeline details are correct.
Support process improvements that enhance development efficiency and transparency.
Quality & Production Handoff Provide QA direction and quality standards to vendors.
Ensure final approved samples meet fit, construction, and brand expectations.
Partner with Production to ensure seamless transition from development to bulk.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services
Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants
Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)
Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement
401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution
A variety of ways to prioritize much-needed time away from work including:
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees
3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees
2-weeks paid Winter Break
10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)
Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent