Product Development Manager- Fashion

Vine Pty; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vine Apparel in Sydney seeks a Product Development Manager to join the Buying team. You will translate design intent into precise technical specifications, manage samples and fit processes, and coordinate with suppliers to ensure quality, cost and manufacturability of apparel from concept to production.

You will drive critical path management, collaborate with Planning, review submissions for alignment with commercial requirements, and ensure production-ready documentation and approvals across

Qualifications

• Experience creating and managing tech packs, specification sheets, and technical documentation.
• Ability to translate design intent into accurate technical specifications.
• Experience coordinating with suppliers and factories to develop products.
• Deep knowledge of fit, grading and size standards.
• Experience managing samples and critical path timelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed tech packs and specification sheets communicating all product requirements to suppliers and manufacturers.
• Review fabrics, trims, colour and submissions to ensure alignment with design intent and quality standards.
• Act as primary contact for supplier development, providing technical guidance and resolving product issues.
• Manage the critical path to ensure milestones and approvals across samples, materials and specs are met.

Skills

Garment construction & manufacturing

Fit, grading & size standards

Tech packs & spec sheets

Fabric & trim knowledge

Sample management & critical path

Supplier & factory communication

Costing & margin awareness

Job description

Vine Apparel is a fast-growing women’s fashion brand with both eCommerce and retail operations, proudly based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. With a loyal customer following and strong connections to the local community, we are known for delivering effortless, accessible fashion that helps women feel confident every day.

Located at our Head Office in Cromer, we are looking for a Product Development Manager to join our Buying team. In this role, you’ll ensure the successful development of apparel products from concepts, samples through to production. This includes translating design intent into accurate technical specifications, managing samples and fit processes, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring all products meet required standards for fit, quality, cost, and manufacturability-

Key Performance Indicators

Product Development –

• Developing and maintaining detailed tech packs and specification sheets that communicate allproduct requirements to suppliers and manufacturers
• Review fabric, trim, colour, and approve submissions to ensure alignment with design intent, quality standards, and commercial requirements
• Acting as the primary point of contact for supplier development communication, providing technical guidance, resolving product issues, and managing development timelines
• Collaborating closely with Planning to ensure products are commercially viable, manufacturable, and delivered on schedule

Sample Management –

• Coordinate sample reviews and communicate feedback to suppliers, ensuring all amendments are implemented accurately and within required timelines
• Maintain an accurate sample tracking register, providing visibility of sample status, approvals, and outstanding actions.
• Ensure the sample room is well organised, with samples correctly labelled, stored, and readily accessible for fittings, range reviews, and stakeholder presentations.

Fit & Technical Review –

• Coordinate fit sessions and document detailed fit comments and technical feedback.
• Conduct measurement checks to ensure compliance with approved specifications and fit standards.
• Evaluate garment construction and workmanship, providing recommendations for improvement where required.

Critical Path –

• Manage product development timelines to ensure key milestones and critical path deadlines are achieved.
• Coordinate and track approvals across samples, materials, and specifications to support timely decision-making.
• Ensure products are production-ready by confirming all technical, quality, and commercial requirements have been approved and documented.

SkillsRequired

• Strong garment construction and manufacturing knowledge.
• Advanced understanding of fit, grading, measurement specifications, and size standards.
• Experience creating and managing tech packs, specification sheets, andtechnical documentation.
• Knowledge of fabrics, trims, garment finishing, and productionprocesses.
• Sample management and critical path coordination skills.
• Supplier and factory communication and relationship management.
• Costing and commercial awareness, with the ability to balance quality and margin requirements.