Product Development Manager

Huk Gear•Charleston, SC

4h•Onsite

About The Position

We’re a team built for life outdoors—driven by a passion for the water, the woods, and the people who live for both. Through our brands, Huk and Nomad, we design high-performance fishing and hunting apparel that works as hard as the environments they’re made for. From early casts to last light in the field, everything we create is rooted in purpose, innovation, and a deep respect for the outdoors. Role Overview The Product Development Manager leads the end-to-end product development function from concept through production readiness. This role is accountable for building and executing the development strategy that delivers on brand vision, cost and margin targets, quality standards, and go-to-market timelines. The Manager partners closely with Design, Technical Design, Sourcing, Sales, and Operations, and manages vendor relationships, development calendars, and internal processes to ensure scalable, repeatable, and on-time product execution. This role owns the product development process, develops and coaches the Product Development team, and continuously improves systems, tools, and workflows to support business growth.

Requirements

5-10+ years of experience in Product Development within outdoor apparel, fishing and hunting apparel, footwear, and/or accessories
Proven experience leading teams and managing cross-functional stakeholders.
Strong understanding of fabrics, trims, garment construction, costing, and production processes.
Demonstrated ability to balance brand vision, quality, cost, and speed-to-market.
Highly organized, process-driven, and comfortable building structure in growing organizations.
Excellent communication, influence, and decision-making skills.
Strong analytical and financial acumen related to costing, margin, and business impact.
Advanced proficiency in PLM systems and Microsoft Office / Google Workspace tools.

Responsibilities

Own and evolve the overall product development strategy to support business goals, brand positioning, cost targets, and regional production strategy.
Translate business and brand objectives into clear development priorities, calendars, and workflows.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Development team; establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
Serve as the primary cross-functional partner to Design, Technical Design, Sourcing, Sales, and Operations.
Identify opportunities to improve speed-to-market, quality, cost, and scalability of development processes.
Oversee fabric and trim development from concept through production approval.
Set sourcing direction to meet aesthetic, cost, quality, and sustainability goals.
Ensure fabric and trim standards are established, documented, and maintained in PLM.
Guide vendor strategy and evaluate new material and innovation opportunities.
Own the product development calendar and time-and-action process to ensure on-time delivery of all GTM milestones.
Establish development timelines, deliverables, and accountability across teams and vendors.
Proactively identify risks to timing, cost, or quality and lead mitigation plans.
Oversee all proto, fit, PP, and SMS sample development across categories and vendors.
Ensure Design and Tech Pack inputs are complete and factory-ready before development begins.
Review and approve development direction, substitutions, and key changes that impact cost, margin, or timing.
Ensure consistent quality and execution across the vendor base.
Own the development costing strategy in partnership with Finance and Sourcing.
Ensure all prototypes and developments align with target cost and margin frameworks.
Guide cost engineering and alternative development strategies when targets are not met.
Provide clear visibility into costing risks and margin impacts throughout development.
Oversee lab dip, handloom, and strike-off approvals to ensure alignment with brand standards and timelines.
Establish review and approval standards and ensure adherence across the team.
Provide leadership in fit and quality standards in partnership with Technical Design.
Participate in and guide fit review processes; approve key decisions that impact product integrity, cost, or delivery.
Ensure testing protocols (fabric and garment) are followed and issues are resolved prior to production readiness.
Own PLM standards, data integrity, and development workflows.
Ensure accurate, complete, and timely information flow between internal teams and vendors.
Lead continuous improvement of tools, trackers, and systems to support scale and visibility.
Define and manage the development vendor strategy in partnership with Sourcing.
Onboard and train new vendors into development systems, expectations, and performance standards.
Build strong, collaborative vendor relationships that support innovation, speed, and quality.