Senior 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 strategic and experienced Senior Manager of Product Development to lead the development and execution of artist merchandise collections across Live Events/Touring and eCommerce drops. This role serves as a senior leader within the Product Development team, owning complex, high-visibility artist programs from ideation through production handoff. You will work closely with Creative and key cross-functional partners to build commercially successful collections across printables, cut-and-sew apparel, and custom/domestic accessories. The ideal candidate combines strong technical development expertise with financial acumen, vendor strategy experience, and the ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, activation-driven music environment.

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in apparel and/or accessories product development.
Strong technical expertise across printables, cut-and-sew, and custom accessories.
Demonstrated vendor sourcing and negotiation experience.
Experience leading or mentoring team members.
Strong financial acumen, including P&L review and pricing strategy.
Proficiency in PLM systems and ERP platforms.
Exceptional ability to manage multiple high-pressure launches simultaneously.
A senior product developer who can balance creativity, speed, and margin.
A leader who elevates both product and process.
A strategic thinker who understands the business impact of development decisions.
A strong cross-functional partner and communicator.
Someone who thrives in the fast pace of tours, surprise drops, and cultural moments.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end development of major artist collections across tour and eCommerce channels.
Partner with Creative at the concept stage to shape line architecture, product mix, and category expansion opportunities.
Translate artist vision into commercially viable product assortments.
Provide recommendations on category growth, fabrication strategy, and price tiering.
Manage and mentor Product Development Managers and/or Coordinators.
Oversee workload allocation across artists and launches.
Ensure team adherence to development timelines, process standards, and data accuracy.
Elevate team capabilities through coaching and best practice implementation.
Lead vendor sourcing strategy across domestic and international partners.
Allocate programs based on capability, speed-to-market, margin targets, and quality performance.
Negotiate costing, MOQs, and timelines at a senior level.
Build long-term vendor partnerships to support scalable growth.
Oversee material selection, trims, construction details, and print techniques.
Provide fit direction and oversee sample review and approvals.
Ensure accuracy and completeness of tech packs and product specs within PLM.
Monitor sample tracking and development progress across multiple concurrent launches.
Own T&A calendars aligned to tour dates, album releases, and eCommerce drop schedules.
Anticipate and mitigate risk related to launch timing.
Ensure cross-functional alignment with Creative, Production, Planning, and Sales teams.
Establish target costing across collections.
Review P&Ls and ensure margin goals are met.
Recommend retail pricing (RRP/MSRP) strategy based on market positioning and profitability targets.
Identify cost engineering opportunities while preserving product integrity.
Maintain accurate and timely product data within PLM.
Oversee ERP product setup inputs and ensure costing integrity.
Support process improvements to drive scalability and efficiency.
Set QA standards and provide direction to vendors.
Ensure approved samples meet quality, fit, and construction expectations.
Partner with Production to ensure seamless bulk transition.

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