Product Development Manager

SanMar-Internal; Issaquah (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,170 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with match

Life insurance

Short/long-term disability

Paid maternity/paternity leave

Annual discretionary bonus up to 10%

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

SanMar’s Product Development team seeks a Manager to lead product development from concept to market, overseeing materials, trims, and supplier collaboration to deliver high quality, cost-effective products.

The role requires 4–6 years in product development, strong knit expertise, and cross-functional collaboration. Hybrid work in Issaquah with Tue–Thu in-office; salary $80,170–$115,000 plus discretionary bonus up to 10%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent working experience.
• 4-6 years experience in product development and production management.
• Technical development of knits in tees and fleece.
• Understanding garment and textile manufacturing processes, factory evaluation techniques, and vendor compliance requirements.
• Understanding forecasting, buy planning, factory loading, and capacity planning.
• Knowledgeable in component costing; garment construction, raw material options, and landing factors.
• Understanding international trade agreements, customs regulations, and product safety standards.
• Strong ability to interact effectively with all levels of management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate goals and objectives.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a results driven mindset.
• Strong people skills and professionalism; can resolve conflicts and contribute to a positive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the product development process from design, materials, and trim concepts into a manufacturable, top quality, and commercialized finished product; manage the product's life cycle.
• Develop fabric, trims, and styles with suppliers; oversee color development and management, including lab dips and bulk materials.
• Research emerging material, trim, and style trends by attending material and industry shows and meeting with suppliers, mills, and factories to present innovative ideas.
• Collaborate with Technical Design to ensure an efficient fit process with minimum prototypes, address quality concerns, and offer alternative construction for cost consideration.
• Be an expert in product knowledge in assigned product categories; collaborate with cross‑functional teams on the design and engineering of seasonal development and propose viable new products to brand partners.
• Understand key cost drivers affecting product development to ensure that the materials selected can be commercialized into compelling and profitable products while working closely with suppliers and internal partners to meet margin requirements.
• Execute seasonal development calendars to meet deadlines, costing KPI, and quality standards.
• Manage monthly capacities and work‑in‑progress reports to ensure on‑time delivery of products; collaborate with the planning team to balance order flows that fit with suppliers’ capabilities and capacities.
• Manage suppliers through transparent communication and responsible purchasing practices to ensure the product is delivered on time and meets SanMar Quality and compliance requirements; partner with Quality Assurance and Sourcing to review, evaluate, and resolve all product‑related quality issues with suppliers.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing Team to establish Global Sourcing Strategies by assessing suppliers, developing risk mitigation strategies for Key Programs, and establishing and strengthening supplier relationships.
• Ensure the global quality program is fully executed across the entire product development lifecycle; support the social compliance and safety standards requirements to ensure the supply base meets them.
• Help train team members in product line, design, and management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

Skills

Strong communication

Problem solving

People skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Forecasting

Factory loading

Vendor compliance

Global sourcing

Product knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent working experience

4-6 years experience in product development and production management

Job description

The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and production of SanMar products. The Product Development Manager leads the development process from initial concept to commercialized product. The role works with the product and merchandising teams to drive new product development, cost savings, responsible sourcing, and customer satisfaction. The Product Development Manager supports the training and development of junior staff within the Product Development Team.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Lead and drive the product development process from design, materials, and trim concepts into a manufacturable, top quality, and commercialized finished product; manage the product's life cycle.
• Develop fabric, trims, and styles with suppliers; oversee color development and management, including lab dips and bulk materials.
• Research emerging material, trim, and style trends by attending material and industry shows and meeting with suppliers, mills, and factories to present innovative ideas.
• Work closely with Technical Design to ensure an efficient fit process with minimum prototypes, address quality concerns, and offer alternative construction for cost consideration.
• Be an expert in product knowledge in assigned product categories; collaborate with cross‑functional teams on the design and engineering of seasonal development and propose viable new products to brand partners.
• Understand key cost drivers affecting product development to ensure that the materials selected can be commercialized into compelling and profitable products while working closely with suppliers and internal partners to meet margin requirements.
• Execute seasonal development calendars to meet deadlines, costing KPI, and quality standards.
• Manage monthly capacities and work‑in‑progress reports to ensure on‑time delivery of products; collaborate with the planning team to balance order flows that fit with suppliers’ capabilities and capacities.
• Manage suppliers through transparent communication and responsible purchasing practices to ensure the product is delivered on time and meets SanMar Quality and compliance requirements; partner with Quality Assurance and Sourcing to review, evaluate, and resolve all product‑related quality issues with suppliers.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing Team to establish Global Sourcing Strategies by assessing suppliers, developing risk mitigation strategies for Key Programs, and establishing and strengthening supplier relationships.
• Ensure the global quality program is fully executed across the entire product development lifecycle; support the social compliance and safety standards requirements to ensure the supply base meets them.
• Help train team members in product line, design, and management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

What Are We Looking For?

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent working experience.
• 4-6 years experience in product development and production management.
• A strong background in technical development of knits in tees and fleece.
• Strong understanding of the garment and textile manufacturing processes, factory evaluation techniques, and vendor compliance requirements.
• High level understanding of forecasting, buy planning, factory loading, and capacity planning.
• Knowledgeable in component costing; including garment construction, raw material options, and landing factors.
• Sound understanding of international trade agreements, customs regulations, and product safety standards.
• Strong ability to interact effectively with all levels of management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate goals and objectives.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a results driven mindset.
• Consistently demonstrate strong people skills, acts with professionalism, can resolve conflicts and contribute to a positive work environment.

What's Our Offer?

Salary Range: You’ll earn between $80,170 – $115,000 annually, depending on experience.

Bonus: You’ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 10% of base salary.

Paid Time Off: You’ll accrue paid time off on a bi‑weekly basis based on hours worked up to 112 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.

• 401(k) plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle.
• Life insurance.
• Short/long‑term disability coverage.
• Paid maternity/paternity leave.

What Should You Expect?

Hybrid: SanMar’s Eastpointe office is located in Issaquah, WA in the Seattle metropolitan area. Employees are required to work in our offices Tuesday through Thursday each week and additional days may be added based on business needs. Our standard working hours are 8:00‑5:00 PST. Periodic travel may be required. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods while working on a computer and participating in virtual and in‑person meetings. Frequent use of hands for keyboarding and standard office equipment is required. Occasional standing, walking, and reaching may be needed to attend meetings or collaborate in an office setting. The role requires the ability to perform close visual work on a computer for extended periods. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10–15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

As set forth in SanMar-Internal ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.