Product Development Director

Cambridge University Press & Assessment; Hartford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational publishing organization based in the UK is seeking a Product Developer to oversee the entire product development process in apparel. The ideal candidate will have strong technical knowledge in fabrics and manufacturing, a natural sense of ownership, and excellent organizational skills. Responsibilities include leading fit sessions, ensuring timely tech pack issuance, and mentoring junior staff. This role is a unique opportunity for those ready to make an impact in a performance-driven brand.

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with suppliers and factories, both in the UK and offshore.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabrics, trims, and manufacturing processes.
• A positive, can-do approach with strong organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for product development across your categories.
• Lead fit sessions with design and product teams.
• Ensure tech packs are issued accurately and on time.
• Mentor and support junior members of the team.

Skills

Ownership

Attention to detail

Technical knowledge of apparel

Commercial mindset

Organisational skills

Job description

Product Developer – North West – Performance – Apparel

Salary: £32,000 – £42,000

Benefits: This is a rare chance to join a team where you can truly own your categories, make bold decisions and help shape the future of a performance‑led brand making serious waves in the industry. If you're ready to lead with confidence, roll your sleeves up and take full control of your product‑this is your moment.

What You’ll Own

• Take full accountability for product development across your categories – from concept through to production, with complete visibility across timelines, costs, and quality.
• Work directly with directors, designers and product managers, bringing ideas to life while driving constant improvement across fit, finish and function.
• Own the critical path – ensuring tech packs are issued accurately and on time, with comprehensive construction, fit and trim comments every step of the way.
• Lead fit sessions with design and product, driving timely, commercial decisions and communicating clear, actionable feedback to suppliers.
• Own sample management – inspecting and signing off styles from proto to PPS, with full confidence in your decisions.
• Guard consistency across the range – ensuring size charts, fit blocks and grading follow the brand’s standards.
• Take full control of lab dips, strike‑offs and trim approvals – making swift, informed calls to keep things moving.
• Be the go‑to contact for your suppliers – maintaining clear, professional communication through weekly check‑ins, calls and relationship‑building visits.
• Engineer for margin – collaborating with sourcing on open‑costing and smart fabric usage, without ever compromising quality.
• Track product compliance across all relevant testing, care labelling and legislative standards – accuracy is everything.
• Be proactive in identifying delays or risks, flagging them early in weekly development meetings and driving solutions.
• Drive improvements with confidence – whether you're optimising a block, renegotiating a detail, or finding new efficiencies with the factory.
• Mentor and support junior members of the team – you lead by example, and others learn from how you operate.

What You Bring

• A natural sense of ownership – you take accountability, seek solutions and keep things moving.
• Exceptional attention to detail – in fit, construction, costing and communication.
• Strong technical knowledge of apparel, fabrics, trims and manufacturing.
• Confidence in working autonomously while still collaborating cross‑functionally.
• A commercial mindset – you understand the impact of every product decision.
• A positive, can‑do approach and strong organisational skills – nothing gets past you.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and factories (UK & offshore).
• A sharp eye for quality and performance – especially within sportswear or technical apparel (bonus!).