Sr. Manager, Product Development

Fabletics•El Segundo, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Fabletics is currently looking for a Sr. Manager, Production Development – Men’s How You Fit In? As the Sr. Manager, Product Development Manager – Men’s, you are a people leader and a strategic co-driver of the product creation process. You partner deeply with Design, Fabric development, Production, Merchandising, and vendors to bring product concepts to life with excellence in construction, materials, innovation, and margin. You oversee a high-performing development team and guide them through complex seasonal development while driving operational discipline, technical mastery, and cross-functional influence. You ensure that every prototype and sample reflects design intent, meets quality and performance expectations, and is delivered on time and on margin. This position reports to the Sr. Director, Product Development & Sourcing.

Requirements

7+ years of product development/product creation experience in performance or lifestyle apparel, with strong preference for men’s apparel categories.
2+ years of people leadership experience with direct reports.
Demonstrated success managing large, complex seasonal development cycles.
Expertise in cost negotiating & knowledge of cost engineering
Strong track record leading vendor negotiations and resolving high-impact technical issues.
Mastery-level knowledge of materials, trims, construction, pattern fundamentals, and manufacturing processes.
Ability to translate design intent into executable product.
Deep experience with men’s performance/lifestyle apparel silhouettes, construction norms, fit requirements, and finishing techniques.
Experience in developing proprietary trims and bringing new construction technologies to market.
Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to determine root causes and propose solutions.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially when conveying technical concepts to senior leaders.
High data literacy and proficiency in interpreting development metrics for decision-making.
Proficiency with PLM; familiarity with 3D tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

Product Creation & Technical Leadership Lead the translation of design intent into executable prototypes providing clear guidance on construction, materials, trims, finishing, and feasibility
Approve construction methods and material applications, ensuring alignment with performance aesthetic, cost, and manufacturability standards.
Identify and propose material alternatives, construction options, and cost-efficient solutions without compromising quality or brand standards.
Drive early feasibility assessments with Design, offering creative and technical solutions that uphold the design vision.
Oversee sample development accuracy, craftsmanship, and execution across all assigned vendors and categories.
Champion the adoption of PLM best practices, 3D tools, and modern product creation technologies.
Development Operations, Process Ownership & KPIs Own the seasonal product development calendar, ensuring all milestones are achieved and proactively mitigating risks.
Set, track, and enforce development of KPIs including on-time sample delivery, BOM accuracy, approval cycles, material adoption, and margin goals.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of development data including costs, sample status, proto accuracy, and vendor performance.
Oversee product adherence to development testing protocols to support performance claims and ensure all risks are identified and resolved before production handoff.
Partner with Sourcing to support margin architecture, should-costing, and negotiation readiness.
Lead operational improvements that drive efficiency, clarity, and cross-functional alignment.
Leadership, Vendor Management & Cross-Functional Influence Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Product Developers, providing coaching, feedback, and succession planning.
Act as senior point of contact for key vendor partners; negotiate timelines, capabilities, and development cost drivers.
Build strong vendor relationships that support innovation, technical problem-solving, and long-term capability expansion.
Communicate complex technical information to senior leaders and cross-functional partners clearly and with influence.
Represent Product Development in cross-functional meetings, providing technical expertise and data-driven recommendations.
Ensure team collaboration and alignment across Design, Fabric, Sourcing, Tech Design, Planning, and Merchandising.