Product Developer - Levy Merchandising

Chartwells Independent; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a talented Product Developer to drive growth in the apparel sector. This role involves managing the complete product development process, collaborating with design teams, and ensuring adherence to quality and safety standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in product development, particularly in sports apparel, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. With a commitment to sustainability and community support, this position offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic industry. Join a team that values diversity and fosters an inclusive workplace where your contributions are recognized and rewarded.

Benefits

31 days holiday including bank holidays

Pension scheme

Colleague health cash plan

Life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary

Employee assistance programme

Discounts on SUDU and other products

Enhanced family leave and pay

Welcoming company culture

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in product development with experience in sports apparel.
• Proficient in creating tech packs and managing vendor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage product development from design to production for apparel.
• Collaborate with design teams and vendors to ensure quality standards.

Skills

Product Development

Garment Construction

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Organizational Skills

Education

Experience in Product Development

Experience with Sports/Performance Apparel

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Office

Job description

Product Developer - Levy Merchandising

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 depending on experience, plus benefits

Hours per week:37.5

Location: Manchester city centre – hybrid working between office and home. Check out our Manchester office -Fourways | Manchester (fourwaysmcr.co.uk)

We’re looking for a talented and driven Product Developer to join our growing team and help accelerate business growth and relevance.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing the product development process from design handover through to production, for both SUDU apparel and apparel designed for our partners, many of whom are huge brands in the sports and entertainment industry.

You’ll report to our Head of Development and work closely with our Design team to ensure our products meet quality, cost, and timeline expectations.This role would be perfect for someone with a strong foundation in product development who is ready to take on more ownership of the process and work autonomously within the role. Our Product Development team work across multiple partners, so we’re also looking for someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll do:

• Collaborate with our Design team to interpret concepts and translate them into viable products
• Develop technical product specifications, including tech packs, BOMs and size charts
• Manage the sample development process, including fit reviews, prototyping, and troubleshooting design, quality and construction challenges
• Work closely with vendors and manufacturers to source materials and trims and ensure quality standards are met
• Ensure adherence to product quality and safety standards
• Monitor and adhere to development timelines to ensure on-time delivery of products
• Effectively balance immediate priorities with long-term objectives
• Actively contribute to researching and implementing sustainability initiatives whenever possible
• Stay updated on industry standards and new technologies to ensure compliance and drive innovation

This role would suit people who have/are:

• Experience working in a product development role – experience of developing sports/performance apparel is desirable
• Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, materials, and manufacturing processes
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft packages
• Experience creating detailed tech packs and working with global vendors
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• A proactive problem-solver with attention to detail and quality, who can remain flexible and agile when priorities shift

Why Levy Merchandising?

Levy Merchandising is the merchandising arm of Levy UK & Ireland. Levy UK & Ireland are a market leader in the world of sports and entertainment experiences, boasting some of the biggest and best stadiums and leisure locations in Europe as its venue partners. These include Ajax’s Johan Cruyff Arena, the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, The O2 Arena, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the National Theatre to name just a few. Levy is part of FTSE 100 company and global leader in food services, Compass Group PLC.

At Levy Merchandising, we design and manufacture a wide range of product direct from source. From technical products, fit for the highest level of performance, through to non-technical fanwear, we produce apparel at all levels of the product pyramid. We also source a comprehensive range of non-clothing products to complete the full range of categories available across the sales channels.

We’re proud to do things differently. We have an innovative commercial model which puts our partners first and makes decision making a joint responsibility. Building long lasting, sustainable relationships is central to our ethos and we want our partners to feel like they retain independence and control on key strategic direction whilst being able to leverage the benefit, scale, and expertise of our central teams across Buying, Licensing, E-Commerce, and Retail Operations.

We’re also committed to supporting the local communities where our factories are based. We work with charities and local outreach programmes to have a positive impact in the cities and towns where we do business.

SUDU is our new UK sportswear brand headquartered in Manchester. With aspirations to be a leading brand that not only equips individuals with the tools they need to excel in physical pursuits but also to empower mindsets with every motion. Our first collection ‘Run’ features 17 products across footwear and apparel.

You’ll also get a package that includes

• competitive salary
• 31 days holiday including bank holidays (pro rata, rising with service)
• pension scheme
• colleague health cash plan
• life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary
• employee assistance programme – 24/7 confidential access to expert services including counselling, wellbeing, and independent legal and financial advice
• discounts on SUDU and other Levy Merchandising products and services
• enhanced family leave and pay
• welcoming company culture and opportunities to develop as our business grows
• opportunities to be a part of and involved in our colleague networks

Building an inclusive work environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. We take pride in fostering a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. We believe that our differences are our greatest strength, and we’re committed to creating an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we’ll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.