Apparel Production Development Manager

Company Description
A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR GLOBAL LEADER IN THE FOOTWEAR and APPAREL INDUSTRY.
JOB PURPOSE-
The Product Development Manager oversees development execution for assigned categories with the support of their manager, ensuring alignment with the Global Product Team HQ. This role leads style development and production, driving timely execution through strong vendor partnerships and seamless collaboration with internal teams (Materials, Trims, Testing, etc.). The Product Development Manager communicates challenges proactively, leads with a solution-oriented mindset, and ensures all developments meet technical, costing, and quality standards for on-time production approval. Success in this role requires close partnership with Design, Costing, Technical Design, Materials, and Product Merchandising to deliver high-quality, commercially viable products.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESULTS-
• Develop an understanding of product requirements, including technical, design, and quality details.
• Coordinate communication between internal stakeholders and external factory partners to meet deadlines.
• Responsible for cost management and analysis of apparel from development through production.
• Ensure costing information is properly maintained in Flex PLM by vendors.
• Conduct cost comparisons by gender, silhouette, COO to ensure optimal margin is achieved.
• Skilled/experienced in IMU/margin calculations and able to calculate target FOB to hit specific margin requirements (based on provided Wholesale, Duty, Target Margin, Freight).
• Manage Production Cost confirmation for all assigned styles.
• Work closely with vendors to maintain System's FOB and Pre-cost
• Negotiate and reconfirm MOQ/MCQ and cost standards as required.
• Build and maintain strong factory relationships, assessing vendor strengths and opportunities.
• Ensure all project details-CADs, design specifications, quality, and testing requirements-are clearly defined and communicated to stakeholders.
• With support from manager; coordinate all stages of assigned category development, ensuring timely execution.
• Partner with materials team to track on-time delivery of fabrics and trims for sample making.
• Keep updating SMS tracker with sending schedule and fill in actual ship dates with sending details accurately.
• Create and maintain SMS Discrepancies Recap on SharePoint for Asia cross-functional teams to add review comments on SMS samples. Ensure comments are completed before the US team SMS review meeting.
• Check QC files to ensure the approved records provided by factories match our records.
• Provide clear daily communication on key issues, blockers, and missing details, ensuring a 24-hour workflow cycle between US and Asia teams.
• Communicate directly with factory management when needed to address issues promptly and effectively.
• Evaluate supplier performance and recommend process improvements for greater efficiency and communication.
• Ensure Flex PLM tech packs and files are accurate and up to date.
• With support from manager, lead the commercialization process end-to-end, ensuring accurate and timely information at all stages.
• Share with manager weekly status updates for categories managed to help prepare and weekly agendas for cross-functional meetings to align on style development progress.
• Navigate and resolve complex technical problems with support from manager, providing clear guidance to internal teams and factory partners.
• Communicate actionable information and tasks to team members in a timely, structured manner.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities that preserve product quality and aesthetics.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES-
• Yes