Senior Product Developer

Rohan Designs Limited; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rohan Designs Limited is seeking a Senior Product Developer to lead end-to-end product development and commercialisation across assigned categories. You will manage the Product Development and Materials team, partnering with Design, Production and suppliers to hit cost, quality, sustainability and delivery targets.

You will oversee specs, testing, approvals and documentation, drive continuous improvement, and align cross-functional teams to ensure products are buy-ready and production-ready,

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development and commercialisation of assigned categories.
• Manage Product Development and Materials team across design, production and suppliers.
• Meet targets for cost, margin, quality and critical path objectives.
• Oversee specifications, BOMs, testing and development documentation.
• Lead sample reviews, approvals and continuous improvement.
• Own development critical paths and seasonal milestones.
• Coordinate prototypes, fit reviews, testing and production readiness.
• Identify risks and ensure on-time approvals and reporting.
• Align cross-functional teams to buy-ready and production-ready status.
• Deliver target cost, margin and supplier value engineering opportunities.

Skills

Product development

Costing & margin

Supplier management

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Tools

MS Office

Product development systems

Job description

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.