Production Manager FTC Maternity Cover

Desmond & Dempsey; Camden Town; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned pajama brand in Camden Town is seeking a Production Manager to oversee the strategic and daily management of the supplier network. The ideal candidate should have experience as a Production Coordinator, strong Excel skills, and excellent negotiation abilities. Responsibilities include managing production timelines, supplier relationships, and ensuring sustainability goals are met. This role offers hybrid working and a supportive environment for career development.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Hybrid working between studio and home

Year-round employee discount

Qualifications

• 3+ years in Product Coordinator role, looking to take the next step up.
• Multi-tasker who works well under pressure.
• Experience working in both CMT and Fully Factored production processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning and execution of production.
• Manage the production critical path with the Commercial team.
• Negotiate and establish payment terms with suppliers.

Skills

Strong Excel/Google Sheet skills

Highly organised

Excellent communicator

Strong negotiator

Good understanding of garment construction and fabric printing

Experience with Zedonk or other PLM software

Job description

Overview

Keeping supply flexible and ready for growth, you will oversee all planning and execution of production. You should be passionate about sustainability, constantly assessing new ways to monitor and improve this within our supply chain. The right candidate will be extremely process driven, highly numerate and an excellent problem solver. You'll be comfortable thinking on your feet, a confident decision-maker and a top-notch communicator. In this role you will oversee our supplier network.

Responsibilities

• Continuously assess the capacity and capabilities of our supplier network, planning for future growth and product development to ensure we continue to deliver the best product, at the right price, at the right time.
• Manage the production critical path, working closely with the Commercial team to plan in production proactively to avoid bottlenecks, ensuring most appropriate vendors are used to balance speed to market and cost.
• Support the product team in Mill/Vendor allocation to get the most of the supply chain, ensuring a balanced and robust seasonal strategy.
• Look for future opportunities for resourcing, proactively counter sourcing key products and also being reactive to all opportunities as they present themselves.
• Source new suppliers where needed for both new product and to mitigate risk for existing continuity lines.
• Develop great relationships with existing and new suppliers.
• Negotiate and establish payment terms, set up supplier agreements and contracts with all new and existing suppliers where relevant.
• Negotiate cost prices on both raw material and finished goods based on final order volumes.
• Take ownership of D&D's supply chain compliance to all necessary sustainability goals.
• Continue to update and drive D&D's sustainable sourcing standards, updating where necessary.
• Proactively plan for future regulatory changes.
• Formalise and progress ESG strategy for continuous improvement in B Corp goals.
• Ensure chemical testing is completed and submitted as per customer requirements.
• Own, plan & execute the production process: Working closely with cross-functional teams to build the supply chain strategy, moulding to the needs of the business.
• Share ideas and knowledge of production to partner with development and merch to optimise product margins.
• Plan greige fabric in line with Merch forecasts, keeping prices and margins stable throughout uncertain periods.
• Place orders, confirm and negotiate delivery dates with raw material suppliers and manufacturers.
• Oversee and manage the day-to-day production, problem solving issues as they arise and communicating any associated delays and contingency planning to relevant internal teams.
• Support the Finance team by filing supplier invoices and flagging priority payments.
• Use company systems such as Zedonk, maintain accurate data to minimise mistakes when processing POs.
• Handle raw material procurement and docket raising.
• Manage QC, ensuring quality remains high—utilise 3rd party testing and inspections as necessary to ensure any deficiencies are brought back to standard.
• Connect with the Customer Care team to receive feedback on print or manufacturing issues and communicate such concerns with the suppliers and development team.
• Use knowledge to support product compliance, engaging with appropriate regulation and testing required for overseas shipping.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in Product Coordinator role, looking to take the next step up.
• Strong Excel/Google Sheet skills.
• Highly organised, analytical and process-driven.
• Excellent communicator.
• Multi-tasker who works well under pressure.
• Strong negotiator, comfortable managing multiple supplier relationships.
• Good understanding of garment construction and fabric printing.
• Experience working in both CMT and Fully Factored production processes.
• Extensive day-to-day experience with Zedonk or other PLM software.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Hybrid working between studio and home.
• Flexible core working hours.
• Year‑round employee discount.
• Last Friday of the month team lunches.
• A business that will invest in your career development and allow you to develop and grow.
• Equal opportunity employer.

About Us

Desmond & Dempsey is a brand dedicated to celebrating the pleasure of leisure. We make pyjamas! Really fancy ones! All designed by hand in our London studio! We sell our pyjamas worldwide, predominantly through our website and in the top retailers (places like Selfridges and Harrods). We are a dedicated and inspiring team of 15 that put our values of comfort, creativity and celebration at the heart of everything we do. We're looking for a Production Manager Maternity cover from early Jan 26 - Jan 27. SUMMARY OF THE ROLE We're looking for an experienced Production Coordinator looking to take the next step up to Production Manager, to own and oversee the strategic and day-to-day management of our supplier network. Reporting to the Head of Product, your role is to ensure that we can continue to bring our seasonal and continuity collections in on time and to the quality standards our customers expect from D&D. Your role is to continuously evaluate the capacity of our supply chain.