Head of Product - Maternity Cover (12-18 months)

Realisation Par; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion brand based in Central London is seeking a Head of Product to lead their product team. You will oversee product design, development, and production while managing a team to ensure sales targets are met through innovative and commercially viable products. Your role includes collaborating with various departments and maintaining awareness of market trends. This position is full-time with one day of remote work per week, making it ideal for creative professionals looking to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in product management within a creative environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage diverse teams.
• Excellent understanding of textiles and product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the product team in planning and project goal setting.
• Develop detailed product range plans and schedules.
• Ensure team meets sales objectives and product launch timelines.
• Research and execute innovative product and textile print designs.
• Manage and develop the London Product & Design team.

Skills

Leadership

Research & Planning

Creative Development

Market Awareness

Team Management

Job description

As the Head of Product, you will act in a supporting role to the Design Director, leading and overseeing Réalisation's London team as a direct Manager. Working collaboratively with our Design Development Manager and Production & Technical Developer Manager, you will oversee new product design, development, and production of the full Réalisation range, driving category extensions and meeting sales targets through commercially viable products that elevate the brand’s aesthetic. You will also support the brand in both creative and commercial decisions.

Design & Planning

• Managing the product team by taking the lead in research, planning, and setting project goals, coordinating internally with various departments.
• Developing detailed product range plans, monthly drop schedules, and new prints/shapes while considering historical best and worst sellers.
• Ensuring the product team meets sales objectives and launch timelines across all categories.
• Executing product concept briefs from the Co‑founders Design & Creative Directors and proactively leading concept development in line with the Réalisation aesthetic.
• Driving ideas for ongoing product category extensions that complement the existing offering and present commercially viable growth opportunities.
• Researching, refining, and executing innovative product and textile print designs in collaboration with the internal team and freelancers, presenting them to the co‑founders for final approval.
• Delivering commercially viable, high‑quality products/collections that align with sales budgets and market opportunities.
• Creating and presenting creative mood boards of product research as required.
• Maintaining a strong awareness of the market and competition.
• Supporting the brand creatively, ensuring the company’s creative vision is clearly communicated to and executed by the team in delivered products.

Development & Production

• Assisting in sourcing trims and new fabrications such as lace, buttons, etc.
• Exploring new, innovative and speciality technologies, materials, construction techniques, and product features to elevate the current product offering.
• Handling end‑to‑end print research and development—cataloguing ideas, outsourcing print designs, coordinating with freelancers, checking scale, Pantone colours, and approving strike‑offs.
• Providing direction on detailed design instruction, trim direction, fit direction, and fabric information, creating tech packs for handover to our Design Development Manager.
• Overseeing fittings of new samples conducted by the Design/Technical developers.
• Leading the development of any new categories required.
• Making commercial decisions related to cost and retail pricing on new products.

Resource & Management

• Managing the London Product & Design team.
• Recruiting, training, and overseeing the ongoing career development of the growing product team, drafting job descriptions for approval.
• Acting as the go‑to for problem solving from the Product team before escalating to the Design Director or relevant department.
• Conducting monthly catch‑ups with the marketing and sales team to discuss best and worst sellers, brief on new releases for ongoing planning and range development to meet sales goals.
• Conducting bi‑weekly meetings with the LA team to discuss merch, knits, collaborations, or any other relevant development/projects.
• Implementing new processes to ensure efficient workflow and meeting timelines.
• Conducting regular team meetings to ensure efficient work processes and clear communication with the broader team.

The role is full time, Central London based with 1 day per week of remote working.