Senior Product Developer

Rohan Designs Ltd; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training

Clothing allowance

50% discount on our own clothing

Pension scheme contributions

Life cover based on salary

Employee Assistance Scheme

Job summary

Rohan Designs Ltd in Milton Keynes is seeking a Senior Product Developer to lead end-to-end development and commercialisation of apparel products.

You will manage the Product Development and Materials team, partner with Design, Production and suppliers to deliver on quality, performance, sustainability, and margin objectives. This role requires strong experience in garment construction and costing to ensure on-time, buy-ready products.

Qualifications

• Proven product development experience within apparel, outdoor or technical products.
• Strong knowledge of garment construction, fit, grading, materials, trims and testing.
• Experience managing development from concept through production approval.
• Commercially aware with strong costing and margin management capability.
• Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturers.
• Knowledge of product compliance, quality assurance and responsible sourcing.
• Strong project management, communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading or mentoring development teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead product and material development in line with seasonal strategy, range plans and critical paths.
• Manage and develop the Product Development and Materials team.
• Partner with Design, Production and suppliers to meet quality, performance, sustainability, cost and margin objectives.
• Oversee specifications, BOMs, testing requirements and development documentation within Range Grid and related systems.
• Lead sample reviews, product approvals and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Product development

Garment construction

Fit & grading

Materials & trims

Testing

Costing & margins

Supplier management

Project management

Communication

Mentoring

Tools

MS Office

PLM systems

Job description

We are excited you have visited our Careers page. We are seeking talented individuals that are excellent in their field of expertise and are posed with all potential and skills necessary to help us meet future business challenges.

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Senior Product Developer

Location: Milton Keynes

Salary: Competitive

Benefits: Comprehensive training, Clothing allowance, 50% discount on our own clothing, Contributions to a Pension scheme, Life cover based on salary, Employee Assistance Scheme

Reporting to the Head of Product, the Senior Product Developer leads the end-to-end development and commercialisation of products across assigned categories, delivering against cost, margin, quality and critical path objectives.

Managing the Product Development and Materials team, you will lead product, technical, sustainability, compliance and supplier activities, working closely with Design, Production and suppliers to deliver commercially successful products that meet Rohan's standards for quality, performance, fit, durability and responsible sourcing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead product and material development in line with seasonal strategy, range plans and critical paths.
• Manage and develop the Product Development and Materials team.
• Partner with Design, Production and suppliers to meet quality, performance, sustainability, cost and margin objectives.
• Oversee specifications, BOMs, testing requirements and development documentation within Range Grid and related systems.
• Lead sample reviews, product approvals and continuous improvement initiatives.

Critical Path & Delivery

• Own development critical paths and seasonal milestones.
• Coordinate prototypes, fit reviews, testing, compliance and production readiness.
• Identify and resolve risks impacting cost, quality, compliance or delivery.
• Ensure approvals, testing and reporting are completed on time.
• Align cross-functional teams to ensure products are buy-ready and production-ready.
• Deliver target cost, margin and commercial objectives.
• Review supplier costings and identify value engineering opportunities.
• Optimise materials, construction and manufacturing methods while maintaining product integrity.
• Support supplier benchmarking, negotiations and continuous improvement.

Fit, Technical Standards & Performance

• Own Rohan fit blocks, grading and technical standards.
• Lead fit sessions and provide technical direction through to production approval.
• Maintain measurement specifications, construction standards and workmanship requirements.
• Review samples and approve manufacturing methods, ensuring products meet performance, quality and durability standards.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure products meet quality, safety, compliance and responsible sourcing requirements.
• Lead technical risk assessments, testing programmes and compliance approvals.
• Review quality reports, test results and supplier submissions.
• Investigate product issues and drive corrective actions.
• Champion supplier quality assurance and CFA programmes.

Supplier & Factory Management

• Act as senior contact for suppliers, factories and material partners.
• Build strong supplier relationships that drive innovation, quality and efficiency.
• Lead supplier WIP reviews covering development progress, costing, testing, compliance and production readiness.
• Support ethical sourcing, social compliance and supplier performance improvement.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach and develop Product Development and Materials team members, including the Product Co-ordinator.
• Establish clear standards, priorities and ways of working.
• Act as the escalation point for technical, supplier, quality and compliance decisions.
• Influence stakeholders to balance design intent, cost, quality, performance and delivery.
• Promote collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills & Experience

• Proven product development experience within apparel, outdoor or technical products.
• Strong knowledge of garment construction, fit, grading, materials, trims and testing.
• Experience managing development from concept through production approval.
• Commercially aware with strong costing and margin management capability.
• Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturers.
• Knowledge of product compliance, quality assurance and responsible sourcing.
• Strong project management, communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading or mentoring development teams.
• Proficient in product development systems and Microsoft Office.
• Organised, proactive, commercially focused and results-driven.

Key Measures of Success

• Delivery of high-quality products with reduced defects and returns.
• Achievement of seasonal critical path and production milestones.
• Delivery of target cost, margin and commercial objectives.
• High first-time approval rates across samples, materials and testing.
• Effective development of team capability and performance.
• Improved supplier performance, collaboration and compliance.
• Successful delivery of product, technical and social compliance requirements.