Product Development Manager

True Classic•Calabasas, CA

1d•Remote

About The Position

True Classic is hiring a Product Development Manager to lead the product creation process from concept through production. In this role, you will drive on-time delivery, maintain margin targets, uphold brand standards, and refine processes to deliver high-quality products that balance design vision, execution, and cost through strong cross-functional alignment. All of True Classic's roles are global and omni-channel, leading designated areas of accountability across all product categories, countries, and different sales & marketing channels. This means you will have the opportunity to impact our operations worldwide, ensuring a cohesive strategy that aligns with our overall business objectives and drives success across various markets and platforms.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in apparel product development or product creation
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple seasons and timelines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Strong understanding of costing and cost engineering, with confidence navigating vendor negotiations
Deep knowledge of materials, construction, trims, and manufacturing processes, with a proven ability to resolve technical challenges
Clear communicator with strong presentation skills and comfort using data to guide decisions

Nice To Haves

Experience translating design vision into real, scalable product across multiple categories
Proven track record of leading and growing vendor relationships at the factory level
Experience building or improving cross-functional development processes and operational workflows
Ability to represent Product Development in senior leadership conversations with confidence and supporting data
Curiosity around AI tools and a willingness to experiment with emerging technologies to drive speed and innovation

Responsibilities

Translate design concepts into executable product by defining construction, materials, trims, and finishing details with precision; partner with sourcing to make informed decisions that balance aesthetics, performance, cost, and manufacturability
Own sample execution across vendors—driving accuracy, quality, and consistency—while proactively identifying alternatives that protect margin and product integrity
Partner early with Sourcing and Production to assess feasibility and resolve challenges before they escalate; own all approvals and keep development trackers and WIPs current
Stay connected to market trends, competitive landscape, and vendor capabilities to continuously strengthen product outcomes and supplier relationships
Run the seasonal development calendar—tracking milestones, surfacing risks, and ensuring clean, accurate reporting across costs, sample status, and vendor performance
Define and monitor KPIs including on-time delivery, BOM accuracy, approval speed, and margin targets; drive adherence to testing standards to validate performance and reduce production risk
Partner closely with Sourcing on costing strategy and negotiation readiness; continuously improve processes to simplify workflows and increase cross-functional alignment
Translate creative vision into technically executable product, providing early feasibility input and maintaining alignment throughout the development process
Collaborate on vendor selection, costing strategy, and negotiation readiness to protect margin and ensure manufacturability
Partner on construction and specification accuracy to drive sample quality and consistency across vendors
Align on seasonal timelines, delivery windows, and product priorities to support go-to-market execution
Build and maintain strong factory-level relationships that enable innovation, proactive problem-solving, and high-quality execution at scale