Product Development Team Lead

Seafolly; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Paid parental leave

Birthday leave

Summer leave

Employee Assistance Program

Great work culture

Training & progression

Brand ambassador role

Refer a friend rewards

Job summary

Seafolly is seeking an experienced Product Development Lead to drive the end-to-end development of swimwear and apparel from concept to bulk production. You will work across Design, Production and supplier partners to ensure quality, cost targets and on-time delivery while leading the Product Development team.

You will translate concepts into commercially viable products, manage critical path milestones, and partner with offshore suppliers to optimise costs and maintain brand integrity.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in Product Development within apparel, swimwear, activewear, or a similar category.
• Strong technical expertise in garment construction, fit, pattern making, fabrics, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to manage the full product development lifecycle from initial concept through to bulk production.
• Solid commercial acumen with experience in product costing, margin management, and cost optimisation.
• Extensive experience partnering with offshore suppliers and manufacturers to deliver quality outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency in AP21, Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel), Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, and developing Product Development team members while managing key stakeholders.
• Highly organised and solutions-focused, with the ability to manage multiple development calendars, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and collaborate effectively across Design, Technical, Production, Sourcing, Quality, and supplier teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product development process across swimwear and apparel categories.
• Translate design concepts into commercially viable products through strong technical development, fit management, and product documentation.
• Drive product innovation, standardisation, and continuous improvement through new materials, manufacturing techniques, block libraries, and fit standards.
• Identify and implement cost optimisation and margin improvement opportunities while maintaining product quality and brand integrity.
• Manage critical path milestones, development timelines, and cross-functional collaboration to support on-time delivery and production readiness.
• Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to resolve technical, quality, and production challenges and improve supplier performance.
• Ensure products meet quality, compliance, safety, and sustainability standards through testing, wearer trials, regulatory compliance, and continuous product improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Product Development team, fostering a high-performing culture focused on accountability, capability growth, collaboration, and business success.

Skills

Garment construction

Fit management

Pattern making

Fabrics knowledge

Manufacturing processes

Cost optimisation

AP21

Excel

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Leadership

Tools

AP21

Excel

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Seafolly is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Product Development Lead, who will be responsible for delivering swimwear and apparel from concept through to bulk production. Working cross-functionally with Design, Production, and supplier partners, you will be accountable for product quality, cost outcomes, critical path delivery, and supplier performance, while leading the Product Development team and supporting Head of Sourcing to execute sourcing and product strategies.

About Seafolly

Born on the sun-soaked beaches of Sydney in 1975, Seafolly has been making waves in swimwear ever since. Our mission? To give women around the world that unbeatable feeling of confidence through innovative designs that put fit first. We live and breathe the Australian beach lifestyle, using it's iconic energy to inspire all that we do. From bold prints to timeless silhouettes, our collections are designed to empower women to embrace the beach with confidence and style. Today, Seafolly is loved globally, with concept stores, online boutiques, and select retailers in over 50 countries.

You will

Lead the end-to-end product development process across swimwear and apparel categories, ensuring products meet quality, cost, and commercial objectives.

Translate design concepts into commercially viable products through strong technical development, fit management, and product documentation.

Drive product innovation, standardisation, and continuous improvement through new materials, manufacturing techniques, block libraries, and fit standards.

Identify and implement cost optimisation and margin improvement opportunities while maintaining product quality and brand integrity.

Manage critical path milestones, development timelines, and cross-functional collaboration to support on-time delivery and production readiness.

Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to resolve technical, quality, and production challenges and improve supplier performance.

Ensure products meet quality, compliance, safety, and sustainability standards through testing, wearer trials, regulatory compliance, and continuous product improvement.

Lead, coach, and develop the Product Development team, fostering a high-performing culture focused on accountability, capability growth, collaboration, and business success.

You have

8+ years' experience in Product Development within apparel, swimwear, activewear, or a similar category.

Strong technical expertise in garment construction, fit, pattern making, fabrics, and manufacturing processes.

Proven ability to manage the full product development lifecycle from initial concept through to bulk production.

Solid commercial acumen with experience in product costing, margin management, and cost optimisation.

Extensive experience partnering with offshore suppliers and manufacturers to deliver quality outcomes.

Advanced proficiency in AP21, Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel), Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

Demonstrated leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, and developing Product Development team members while managing key stakeholders.

Highly organised and solutions-focused, with the ability to manage multiple development calendars, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and collaborate effectively across Design, Technical, Production, Sourcing, Quality, and supplier teams.

We offer

Generous employee discounts on Seafolly, JETS & Tigerlily products

Paid parental leave

Birthday Leave. Treat yourself and enjoy a paid day off for your birthday!

Summer Fun Leave. Enjoy 2 extra days off during summer to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the beaches!

Access to our Employee Assistance Program for you and your family with the Sonder Platform.

Great work culture in a passionate team environment

Training, development and career progression

The opportunity to be an ambassador for Australia's most loved swimwear brand

Refer a friend. Enjoy a referral reward for successfully placing a referral