Product Development Manager

EMINENT, INC.•Los Angeles, CA

6d•$117,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Product Development Manager is a full-time, senior-level role responsible for overseeing the development and execution of seasonal product development processes. The manager leads an existing team of product developers and ensures product development cycles and procedures support company goals. The role maintains and communicates productivity, costing, and calendar metrics while collaborating with team members, vendors, and stakeholders throughout the organization. It requires working effectively in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision. The manager oversees vendor relationships, product development timelines, work in progress, costing, budgets, sourcing, and seasonal allocations across multiple brands or categories. The role partners with cross-functional teams and Supply Chain to ensure product quality and on-time deliveries, improve development processes, and develop team members through guidance, workshops, interviews, and training. Overseas travel to vendors may be required to expedite products and improve processes.

Requirements

Degree in apparel manufacturing, product development, apparel design, or a related field.
At least 9 years of experience in product development or a related field.
At least 3 years in a managerial or leadership role.
Experience with costing and overseas vendor communication.
Excellent computer skills, including Excel and Google applications.
In-depth knowledge of fabric, apparel, materials, construction, and fit.
Comprehension of all stages of product development processes.
Ability to handle a large number of SKUs.
Strong knowledge of garment construction and specifications.
Advanced knowledge of product life cycle, calendar deadlines, fabric, trims, quality, development, garment construction, and finishing.
Advanced organizational, detail-oriented, leadership, analytical, decision-making, written and verbal communication, multitasking, prioritization, delegation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with a short five-month lead calendar and meet delivery deadlines.
Ability to lead, manage, and train multiple lower-level designers across multiple brand categories.
Proactive and self-motivated, with a get-it-done attitude.
Ability and willingness to lift and carry up to 10 pounds and perform frequent repetitive finger, hand, and wrist motions, as well as bending, stooping, reaching, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling.
Ability to sit for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills and knowledge of CAD.
Positive past vendor relationships and resources.
In-depth knowledge of textiles, sourcing, and development.
Ability to travel overseas once or twice a year.

Responsibilities

Manage existing vendor relationships to continually improve products.
Lead internal and external calendar management to ensure deliveries are met.
Monitor work in progress for all product stages across multiple brands or categories.
Negotiate, set, and approve target FOB costs and retails to maintain margins.
Guide team members in strengthening their negotiation skills.
Manage all phases of the product development cycle with internal teams, including timelines, vendor relationships, and budgets, to meet launch dates.
Coordinate with cross-functional departments to clarify the product pipeline and ensure on-time deliverables.
Develop and improve existing capabilities.
Partner with Supply Chain to oversee seasonal allocations and source and onboard new vendors.
Manage the allocation, sourcing, and development of high-quality products among team members.
Evolve product development processes and communicate them effectively.
Assist in leading workshops for junior-level team members.
Cultivate, interview, and train junior team members, including refining their development processes.
Travel overseas to vendors to expedite products and improve processes.
Complete ad hoc tasks and assignments as directed by executives.