Lead, Product Line Sales Support

Colonial Group; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group is seeking a Lead, Product Line Sales Support to drive wholesale product line development with a consumer-centric approach. The role focuses on creating clear briefs for development and design, aligning milestones, and sharing critical data across teams.

The candidate will influence cross-functional partners, manage costs, and provide leadership in a fast-paced, fashion-forward environment, with strong presentation and communication skills essential for key accounts.

Qualifications

• University degree required.
• 5–7 years of experience in activewear/printwear or vertical manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of North America consumer tastes, habits, and behaviors.

Responsibilities

• Provide briefs and frameworks giving clear product direction to development and design partners.
• Manage and execute designated calendar milestones from design brief to product launches.
• Lead fast track projects with accurate information sharing across the organization.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to reduce product-level process complexity.
• Offer guidance on fit and construction during fit sessions.
• Mentor junior team members in partnership with Sr. Director.
• Ensure target cost alignment to meet margin requirements set by leadership.
• Analyze product line performance including add/drops, sell-in, sell-through, and monthly POS data.

Skills

North America consumer insight

Creative thinking

Product creativity

Knitwear knowledge

Challenger brand mindset

Presentation skills

Interpersonal communication

Cross-cultural navigation

Analytical thinking

Influence and collaboration

Attention to detail

Executive stakeholder management

Education

University degree

Job description

The opportunity

Lead, Product Line Sales Support will play an integral role in managing the core wholesale product line development process. This individual will be responsible for developing assortment frameworks and consumer centered product briefs that address their deep understanding of the target consumers, specialty channels and competitive set. This individual will also need to have a deep understanding of trends in the relevant market, understand how product is created and analyze consumer and marketplace data. They will oversee and ensure that key deliverables and deadlines are met including achievement of milestones and have a quick and critical thinker mindset to make decisions.

The individual is self-motivated, plans and excels at knowing how to work back into timelines. They will embrace the Gildan consumer and have a relentless desire to gain a deep understanding of product, fashion, color and decorating trends in the wholesale and retail markets. This individual must exude passion for product and have excellent communication and presentation skills. The successful candidate must be able to influence, collaborate, and create consensus. The candidate must be highly organized and demonstrate strong analytical skills as well as a high level of attention to detail.

The role

• Provide briefs and frameworks which give clear product direction and information to development and design partners.
• Manage and execute designated calendar milestones from design brief to product launches.
• Lead robust fast track projects with accuracy and information sharing across all areas within the organization.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to identify opportunities to reduce product-level process complexity.
• Have an understanding of fit and construction to provide direction in fit sessions.
• Support the development of junior level team members in partnership with Sr. Director.
• Ensure design understands and builds into target cost to meet margin requirements set by leadership.
• Analyze product line performance inclusive of add/drops, sell-in, sell-through, and monthly POS data.
• Ensure maintenance and governance of the style master data and product lifecycle.
• Responsible for sales/customer presentations, both internally and externally to key accounts, internal stakeholders and wholesalers as needed.
• Analyze product line performance inclusive of add/drops, sell-in, sell-through, and monthly POS data.
• Ensure maintenance and governance of the style master data and product lifecycle.
• Responsible for sales/customer presentations, both internally and externally to key accounts, internal stakeholders and wholesalers as needed.

The requirements

Education Required:

• University degree.

ExperienceRequired:

• 5 – 7 years
• Activewear industry - Printwear and/or vertical manufacturing experience.

Skills Required:

• Ability to demonstrate a general understanding of the North America consumer (tastes, habits, preferences & behaviors)
• Innovative and creative new thinking and ideas pertaining to product and process
• Creativity and passion for product.
• Knowledge of knitwear (tees, fleece, polos) and how they are constructed and their fabrics.
• Embraces a challenger brand mindset and considers the next step beyond the task at hand.
• Excellent presentation and interpersonal communication skills
• Understands how to navigate invisible language and cultural barriers.
• Strong analytical abilities and critical thinking skills.
• Able to create consensus, influence, and work collaboratively.
• Excellent attention to detail and can manage various tasks well.
• Familiar with managing up to executive leadership in person, verbally and written

Problem Solving & Complexity

• How to make up time in the development calendar with other businesses taking priority based on senior leadership
• Direction Navigating Quality issues that come up at the start of the season, when inventory exist within Gildan and the Customer’s DC.