ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking an experienced Product Development Manager to lead and elevate our end-to-end product development function for intimate apparel.
You will be responsible for transforming product ideas into commercially successful products by leading cross-functional collaboration across Design, Technical Design, Pattern Engineering, Materials, Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing, and Merchandising.
Beyond delivering products, you will build scalable development processes, improve technical capability, establish product validation standards, and drive continuous improvement across the organization.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
1. Lead End-to-End Product Development
Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle from concept through bulk production, ensuring products are delivered on time, meet commercial objectives, and achieve the highest standards of quality, fit, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.
- Own the complete product development process, including product brief review, design feasibility, material development, technical development, prototype development, product validation, pilot production, production readiness, and bulk production approval.
- Establish and continuously improve stage-gate processes, development milestones, governance, and approval criteria to drive efficient execution and informed decision-making.
- Drive development timelines, prioritize resources, proactively identify risks, and resolve issues to minimize development iterations and accelerate speed-to-market.
- Balance design intent, technical performance, manufacturability, target cost, quality, and commercial objectives throughout the development lifecycle.
Ensure products are fully validated and production-ready before commercialization through defined approval standards and product readiness criteria.
2. Drive Technical Excellence & Product Engineering
Serve as the technical leader for intimate apparel product development, ensuring products deliver exceptional fit, comfort, support, durability, and manufacturability while meeting commercial objectives.
- Lead technical product engineering from concept through production, translating design intent into technically sound, manufacturable, and scalable products.
- Provide expert guidance on bra construction, including cup architecture, support systems, wire selection, strap positioning, band construction, and component integration to achieve targeted fit and performance.
- Oversee pattern development and grading to ensure accurate fit, balance, and consistency across all sizes.
- Drive material and construction decisions by evaluating fabrics, foams, elastics, lace, and trims for functionality, durability, comfort, quality, and cost effectiveness.
- Lead technical fit reviews and product evaluations, identifying root causes of fit or construction issues and driving effective engineering solutions while preserving design intent.
- Review and approve construction methods, sewing techniques, manufacturing specifications, and engineering standards to ensure production readiness and consistent quality.
- Establish and oversee product validation standards, including fit validation, laboratory testing, wear testing, cross-size validation, and production approval to ensure products meet defined performance and quality requirements.
- Partner with manufacturing teams and suppliers to resolve technical challenges, optimize construction methods, improve manufacturability, and introduce new technologies and product innovations.
3. Build Organizational Capability & Lead Cross-Functional Teams
Build and lead a high-performing Product Development organization capable of delivering world-class intimate apparel.
- Recruit, develop, coach, and mentor Product
Developers and technical specialists, building a team with deep expertise in intimate apparel development.
- Establish technical standards, best practices, operating procedures, and clear roles to strengthen organizational capability and drive consistent execution.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration across Design, Technical Design, Pattern Engineering, Materials, Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing, Merchandising, and external partners to ensure alignment throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Build strong partnerships with suppliers and manufacturing partners to improve technical capability, product quality, innovation, and development efficiency.
- Facilitate timely cross-functional decision-making, ensuring risks, trade-offs, and priorities are aligned with business objectives.