Apparel Product Developer: End-to-End & Vendor Collaboration

Rhoback; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhoback is seeking an organized Product Developer to manage seasonal product development from concept through production across assigned categories and vendors. This role collaborates with Design, Technical Design, Production, Merchandising and global partners to ensure accurate BOMs, specs, costing, and approvals on time.

Responsibilities include managing calendars, coordinating tech packs and samples, tracking progress, and optimizing costs while maintaining quality.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of product development experience, preferably within apparel or soft goods.
• Experience working directly with domestic and/or global vendors and factories.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple styles and seasonal development timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with PLM systems, BOM management, and product development tracking tools; Centric PLM experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of apparel sourcing, costing, materials, trims, garment construction, and production considerations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Development, Product Development, or related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day product development across assigned categories, styles, and vendors from initial tech pack through production handoff.
• Manage multiple overlapping seasonal calendars and development priorities, ensuring key milestones and deliverables remain on track.
• Partner with Design and Technical Design to ensure tech packs, BOMs, specifications, construction details, and product requirements are complete and accurate prior to release.
• Manage Photo and SMS sample logistics, including tracking availability and timing, receiving and organizing samples, and coordinating transfers and shipments to photoshoots, sales reps, and other teams.
• Coordinate prototype and development sampling, tracking comments, approvals, outstanding actions, and next steps through production readiness.
• Manage fabric, trim, color, print, packaging, and hangtag development, including applicable lab dips, strike-offs, submit, and approvals.
• Support SMS/Photoshoot and Bulk submit workflows, ensuring comments, approval status, and required follow-up are accurately communicated and tracked.
• Request, review, and track product costing throughout development; identify discrepancies and support cost-saving opportunities while protecting product quality.

Skills

Product development

Vendor management

Timelines & scheduling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Development, Product Development, or related field

Tools

Centric PLM

Job description

Rhoback is seeking an organized Product Developer to manage seasonal product development from concept through production across assigned categories and vendors. This role collaborates with Design, Technical Design, Production, Merchandising and global partners to ensure accurate BOMs, specs, costing, and approvals on time.

Responsibilities include managing calendars, coordinating tech packs and samples, tracking progress, and optimizing costs while maintaining quality.