Interim Manager, Product Development

Gofractional; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Gofractional in Carlsbad is seeking an Interim Manager, Product Development to lead design translation, supplier collaboration, and cost optimization across the product lifecycle.

You will partner with Product Designers, manage PLM data, review samples and costs, and ensure schedules and quality across cross-functional teams to deliver market-ready products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent manufacturing of sporting goods/outdoor related products.
• Minimum 3 years of product and/or development experience.
• Minimum of 4 years directly involved with manufacturing, suppliers, new products and related projects/corrective action investigations.
• Experience with cut and sew manufacturing at the factory level.

Responsibilities

• Translate design concepts and briefs to finished products with knowledge of customer preferences, product functionality, materials and manufacturing techniques.
• Translate features from designs and techpacks to suppliers; negotiate details during sampling for design specs.
• Review samples for execution accuracy, functionality, costing, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Review product costing for accuracy and potential savings; collaborate to approve final costing.
• Review product and material testing; approve testing or propose improvements.
• Review and approve color submits with Product Designer.
• Maintain Centric PLM data: BOM, costing, and material library.
• Collaborate to maintain development schedules and daily tasks in Asana.
• Manage suppliers to enforce design, manufacturing and delivery criteria; ensure quality.
• Coordinate packaging and marketing materials with Design and Marketing.
• Act as technical lead between Engineering, Product Design, Supply Chain and Program Management.
• Meet with suppliers to review new offerings and innovations.
• Identify solutions to challenges or improvement opportunities.

Skills

Self-starter

Team player

Leadership

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical field

Tools

Centric PLM

Asana

Adobe Illustrator

MS Office

Job description

Manager, Product Development (Interim)

Location: CGC - HQ - Carlsbad

Employment Type: Full time

Job Requisition ID: JR2023-16439

Compensation: $132,000.00 - $165,150.00 - $198,300.00 USD Annual

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In conjunction with Director, Global Soft Goods Operations, translate design concepts and briefs to finished products using knowledge of customer preferences, product functionality, materials and manufacturing techniques.
• Work with Product Designer to translate critical features in working designs and techpacks to communicate to suppliers. Review and negotiate specific details during the sampling process related to design specifications.
• Review samples for execution accuracy, product functionality, cost engineering and manufacturing efficiency.
• Review product costing for accuracy and potential cost savings and work with Director and Product Manager to approve final costing.
• Review product and material testing for appropriate use and application. Align with Director to effectively problem solve, improve and approve any testing failures.
• Partner with Product Designer to review and approve color submits.
• Maintain data in Centric PLM system including bill of materials, costing and material library.
• Work with Product Manager and Program Manager to maintain product development schedule, timelines and daily Asana tasks.
• Manage product suppliers to establish and enforce criteria for design, manufacturing and delivery execution while working with the Engineering team to ensure quality standards are met.
• Work with Design and Marketing to ensure all related packaging, hang tags and marketing materials are completed.
• Act as technical lead and liaison between the internal groups (e.g.: Engineering, Product Designers, Supply Chain, and Program Management).
• Meet with suppliers to review new offerings and innovations.
• Use technical expertise to identify solutions to challenges or improvement opportunities.
• Participate in buy reviews to identify potential capacity and order challenges and propose alternate proposed buys or applicable surcharges

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Self-starter that takes the initiative to start and complete assignments without direct supervision.
• Able to effectively work as a part of a team toward meeting company goals.
• Skilled at guiding the development of subordinates in alignment with company goals and objectives.
• Ability cooperate with functional counter-parts or others not directly supervised to achieve objectives.
• Skilled at solving complex problems and implementing solutions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Thorough knowledge of travel and lifestyle category technologies and general manufacturing principles.
• General knowledge of quality assurance methods.
• Solid knowledge of materials used in sporting goods products.
• Proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Centric PLM system and Asana is a plus.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in technical field or equivalent manufacturing of sporting goods/outdoor related products.
• Minimum 3 years of product and/or development experience, preferably in accessories fields.
• Minimum of 4 years directly involved with manufacturing, suppliers, new products and related projects/corrective action investigations.
• Experience with cut and sew manufacturing at the factory level.