Apparel Product Development Lead (12m Maternity)

TRP RECRUITMENT; Watford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

TRP RECRUITMENT is seeking a focused Apparel Product Developer for a 12-month maternity cover in Watford. You will manage the full lifecycle from design handover through to bulk production, coordinating fit sessions, tech packs, and supplier communications to ensure quality and brand alignment.

You will lead fabric/trims development, oversee critical paths, and mentor junior team members while collaborating with Design, Production and Sourcing. Strong Excel/Word skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in Apparel Product Development, ideally across menswear with womenswear experience a plus.
• Proactive problem-solver who can work independently.
• Experience in sourcing and factory allocations.
• Expertise in garment fit, fabric development, washes/finishes and construction detailing.
• Experience working within a wholesale business model.
• Highly motivated, organised and commercially aware, with excellent communication skills.
• Proven experience managing overseas factories and suppliers.
• Strong IT skills, particularly MS Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full product lifecycle from design handover through SMS, PPS and shipment, including reviewing tech packs, creating workbooks, maintaining trackers and following seasonal critical path timelines.
• Lead fit and sample development, conducting fit sessions from Proto to Shipment Samples, measuring garments, amending specifications and approving/commenting on prototypes, SMS, PPS and shipment samples to ensure fit, quality and construction meet brand standards.
• Manage technical specifications and product standards, creating and maintaining tech packs, size charts, measurement specifications, construction standards, testing manuals and web specifications, while ensuring products meet quality, performance, durability and compliance requirements.
• Manage fabrics, trims and materials, approving fabric qualities, lab dips, trims, prints and embroidery, checking colour, weight, technique, quality and sizing, and working with suppliers to resolve development issues.
• Own the development critical path and supplier communication, working directly with factories and suppliers to track samples, approvals, testing, production and shipment, proactively identifying risks, chasing outstanding actions and maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Oversee testing, quality and technical problem-solving, assessing test reports, coordinating wash and fabric performance testing, identifying technical or construction issues and implementing practical solutions to improve fit, comfort, quality and product performance.
• Coordinate samples and cross-functional activity, including requesting and tracking marketing and buyer samples, organising sample archives, supporting design, production and sourcing teams, attending range reviews and product presentations, and travelling to Watford when required.
• Support team development and continuous improvement, advising design on technical considerations, improving systems and processes, sharing best practice and mentoring junior Garment

Skills

Product Development

Problem Solving

Sourcing

Factory Management

Garment Fit

Fabric Development

Washes/Finishes

Construction Detailing

Wholesale Experience

Communication Skills

MS Excel & Word

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

TRP RECRUITMENT is seeking a focused Apparel Product Developer for a 12-month maternity cover in Watford. You will manage the full lifecycle from design handover through to bulk production, coordinating fit sessions, tech packs, and supplier communications to ensure quality and brand alignment.

You will lead fabric/trims development, oversee critical paths, and mentor junior team members while collaborating with Design, Production and Sourcing. Strong Excel/Word skills are essential.