Product Development Manager

The Product Development Manager is responsible for overseeing the development of 4 seasonal Women's RTW collections and 2 bridal collections from design to production handover. The objective is to ensure that the collections fulfil the range plan and achieve, quality, fit, margin and critical path expectations. Reporting to the founders.

The successful individual will be UK-based and have at least 7 years of product development experience in Women's RTW with 1-2 years at management level. Product and critical path ownership are key to this role which will suit a hands-on self-starter who is process-driven, product-savvy, results-focused and experienced in working with factories in China. A confident all-round communicator skilled in anticipating and mitigating problems armed with well-researched and tried and tested solutions. 

Bold, confident and refined this global London-based luxury Women's brand balances modern futurism with timeless minimalism resulting in a collection defined by precision cuts, craftsmanship and sophistication blurring the line between statement and wearability.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage the product development of the Women’s RTW and bridal collections in close collaboration with the founders, liaising with production and sales.
• Oversee the day-to-day running of the sample room to ensure priorities align with the critical path.
• Manage the development critical path to ensure all product is delivered on time and within budget.
• Collaborate on seasonal range plans, costings, pricing and margin targets ensuring these are achieved.
• Maintain detailed tech packs and BOM’s for all styles.
• Launch product from sketch through to production handover, liaising closely
  with the designers, sample room and production teams.
• Daily communication with suppliers and fully factored factories in China to resolve issues and ensure samples are delivered on time and adhere to the designer’s vision, fit and quality expectations.
• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve target margins.
• Source and negotiate raw materials in line with margins and ensure submission approvals achieve the critical path.
• Calculate fabric and trim consumption and confirm minimums, lead times and prices ensuring product suitability for end use anticipating and mitigating any technical issues.
• Launch initial sketches with pattern cutters ensuring alignment with the vision of the designers.
• Launch production samples with factories in China.
• Participate in product reviews and fit meetings feeding comments back to the pattern cutter or factory.
• Maintain and ensure accurate and timely entry of all product data in Zedonk.
• Work closely with design, production, sample room and sales to ensure all product information is accurate and finalised on time ready for production handover.
• Oversee the timely delivery of VIP projects, Press and Lookbook samples.
• Manage and support the Design & Development Coordinator.
• Approve sample invoices and monitor sample spend against budget.

Essential Skills

• Product Development Manager with a minimum of 7 years of product development experience in contemporary or luxury fashion and at least 1-2 years in a management role.
• Expertise in Women’s Ready-to-Wear. Occasionwear experience is an advantage.
• Hands-on and a self-starter who can hit the ground running.
• Experience working with fully factored factories in China.
• Exceptional organisation skills with excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent time management with the ability to multi-task, delegate and prioritise.
• Proven track record delivering against margins, quality, price and delivery targets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good knowledge of garment construction and finishing.
• Committed to achieving excellent quality.
• Skilled in anticipating and mitigating problems armed with well-researched and tried and tested solutions.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Software proficiency in Zedonk, GSuite, MS Office.
• Positive, supportive, hands-off leadership style.
• Hands-on, straight-speaking, positive team player.
• UK-based commutable to London 3-4 days a week, 5 days at peak season.

Salary, Hours & Benefits

• Salary £ in line with experience.
• UK-based hybrid working Monday to Friday 3-4 days a week in the London office.
• 28-days holiday + around 2 weeks at Christmas including bank holidays.
• Contributory pension scheme with company matching 3%.
• £8k annual clothing allowance.