Senior Manager - Product Development

Loblaw Companies Limited; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Joe Fresh, a subsidiary of Loblaw Companies Limited, seeks a Senior Manager of Product Development to lead teams and drive product innovation. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in the fashion industry, strong analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across various departments. This role emphasizes strategic thinking, communication, and a keen eye for design, ensuring high-quality products that meet consumer needs while optimizing costs.

Benefits

Excellent organizational culture

Diverse work environment

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of work experience in a fashion industry-related role.
• 5+ years of experience managing a team.
• Strong digital literacy with effective reporting and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a small Product Development team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve margin targets.
• Analyze sales data from past and current seasons.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Founded in 2006, Joe Fresh is a leading source for modern style and accessible design, offering comprehensive lifestyle collections for men, women and children. Joe Fresh delivers quality and compelling value in categories spanning in apparel, accessories, and footwear. Joe Fresh collections are polished and sophisticated, with a focus on essential designs that appeal to a broad range of style-savvy consumers. With more than 350 Joe Fresh departments from coast to coast, the Joe fresh network is more than a great place to shop, it’s a great place to work. We’re committed to building our talented team who champion collaboration, kindness, and inclusivity. We are looking for innovative, hardworking, and collaborative team members for our Joe Fresh team. Join our team in our goal of helping Canadians Live Life Well.

In addition, we believe that compliance with laws is about doing the right thing.Upholding the law is part of our Code of Conduct – it reinforces what our customers and stakeholders expect of us.

Why is this role important:
The Senior Manager, Product Development leverages consumer insights, vendor strategies, and key trends—along with expertise in product construction and raw materials—to drive product development, innovation, and cost optimization. This role plays a critical part in fostering a collaborative and strategic approach throughout the product-to-market process. Partnering closely with internal teams—including design, sourcing, production, quality assurance, and merchandising—as well as external suppliers, you will ensure alignment on goals and expectations to deliver high-quality, consumer-driven products.

Job Posting Title: Sr. Manager, Product Development

Job Description

Role Mandate:

• Support the Product Development team throughout the development process while managing responsibilities as a Product Developer, ensuring adaptability to shifting business needs.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to achieve margin targets while maintaining product integrity.

• Manage key milestones and timelines, proactively communicating challenges and ensuring alignment with calendar deadlines.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead and support a small Product Development team, providing coaching and fostering individual growth.

• Collaborate with Raw Materials, Sourcing, and Design teams to source and track fabrications, trims, and techniques for seasonal and future developments.

• Partner with cross functional teams to achieve margin targets without compromising design integrity.

• Align vendor allocation with seasonal strategy and track totals by vendor to meet planned capacity.

• Maintain financial tracking to ensure cost targets are achieved.

• Present and represent the Product Development team in key meetings.

• Support the Product Development team in effectively presenting key updates, priorities, and solutions in seasonal milestone meetings.

• Oversee cost negotiations within the Product Development team and Sourcing partners, driving problem-solving and margin-focused solutions.

• Partner with Design to execute styles from initial concept through pass-off to Production.

• Oversee sample preparation and material organization for meetings.

• Provide Product Development insights in fit sessions.

• Communicate with factories and follow-up on design development and style confirmation.

• Ensure vendors adhere to the Development Calendar through daily communication.

• Analyze sales data from past and current seasons to inform decision-making.

• Facilitate team store visits and competitive shopping.

Role Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of work experience in a fashion industry-related role.

• 5+ years of experience managing a team.

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.

• Strong digital literacy with the ability to produce effective reports, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

• Advanced analytical and presentation skills, with the ability to provide recommendations based on key insights.

• Strong initiative and judgment in coordinating, prioritizing, and managing tasks and projects.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required.

• PLM experience is a plus but not required.

• Strong knowledge of fabric content and garment construction.

• Keen eye for design, detail, and style.

• Ability to work independently when supervisor is unavailable while maintaining visibility and alignment.

• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Thrives in a diverse and dynamic work environment.

• Strong team player with excellent collaboration skills.

How You’ll Succeed:
At Joe Fresh, we seek great people to continually strengthen our culture.We believe great people model our values, are authentic, build trust and make connections.

If that sounds like you, and you are open-minded, responsive to change and up to the challenges provided in a fast-paced retail environment, apply today.

Joe Fresh recognizes Canada's diversity as a source of national pride and strength. We have made it a priority to reflect our nation’s evolving diversity in the products we sell, the people we hire, and the culture we create in our organization. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.

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