Senior Manager, Product Development & Fabric Innovation

Delta Galil Industries•New York, NY

55d•$120,000 - $137,750•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Product Development & Fabric Innovation will oversee the full product development lifecycle—from initial concept through final SMS—ensuring that all seasonal collections meet business, aesthetic, and quality goals. This role bridges creative vision and technical execution, driving collaboration between Design, Fabric R&D, Technical Design, and Production teams. The ideal candidate combines strong fabric knowledge with product development expertise, ensuring collections are executed on time, on budget and affordable with excellence in quality and innovation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising or related field
Minimum 8 years of experience in apparel product development and/or fabric innovation
Strong technical knowledge of fiber, yarn, fabric construction, and garment manufacturing
Proven ability to manage multiple product categories and seasonal calendars with precision
Skilled in Time & Action management, BOM creation, and sample tracking systems
Strong vendor management experience with domestic and overseas partners
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint), PLM, and related systems
Passion for material innovation, sustainability, and driving quality through every stage of development

Responsibilities

Manage the end-to-end product development process, from initial concept through SMS / production pass off ensuring alignment across Design, Merchandising, and Production.
Own and track all milestones in the Time & Action calendar to ensure timely delivery of samples, approvals, and production readiness.
Oversee BOM creation, approvals, and handoff to Production, ensuring all materials, colors, and components are accurately captured.
Manage development sample requests, vendor communication, and prepare for key milestone meetings including but not limited to – market, fittings and hangtag creation.
Proactively resolve development or production challenges by partnering with cross-functional teams and vendors to ensure solutions are cost-effective and timely.
Responsible for sending out all specs and art to factories and mills.
Lead the creation, sourcing, and innovation of fabrics and trims across categories, from concept through proto and SMS ensuring bulk costing and affordability.
Partner with Design to identify seasonal fabric and trim needs; propose innovative materials that align with brand standards, cost, and sustainability goals.
Conduct all lab dip, strike-off, and bulk approval processes, maintaining seasonal color libraries and ensuring consistency across product lines.
Build strong relationships with overseas partners.
Research new fabric technologies, fiber blends, and finishes to drive material innovation and competitive differentiation with a strong understanding of cut and sew and wovens.
Maintain and organize fabric and trim libraries by category, ensuring accessibility and accuracy for internal teams.
Build and maintain strong relationships with mills, factories, and suppliers to optimize quality, lead times, and cost efficiencies.
Partner with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, and Production to align material development with design intent, costing, and delivery goals.
Collaborate with the Sustainability and Compliance teams to align material sourcing with environmental and social responsibility standards.
Partner with Legal to team to ensue all art and prints are approved.
Research and present market and material trends, technological advancements, and innovation opportunities to drive product differentiation.
Support seasonal kickoff and development meetings with fabric, color, and material presentations.
Identify and implement new processes or tools to streamline development workflows and enhance visibility across teams.