Product Development/Production Manager

Software Placement Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Placement Group in New York seeks an experienced Product Development/Production Manager to oversee the full product lifecycle from concept to production. You will serve as the central liaison between Design, Technical Design, vendors, factories, and Production to ensure timely development at target quality and cost.

The role requires strong expertise in costing, PLM systems, and managing protos/SMS, with a proven track record in overseas manufacturing and fast-paced brand environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in fashion product development, production, or product management.
• Strong understanding of women's contemporary fashion market and lifecycle.
• Experience working directly with overseas factories and vendors.
• Strong knowledge of apparel construction, fabrics, trims, costing, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience managing protos, SMS, production approvals, and delivery timelines.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong organizational abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple brands, categories, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to identify issues early and drive solutions.
• Willingness to work closely with international vendors across multiple time zones.

Responsibilities

• Manage the product development process from initial design handoff through prototype, SMS, and production.
• Review and track TPs, BOMs, measurements, construction details, fabrics, trims, and development requirements.
• Partner with Design to ensure product information is complete and accurate before development.
• Manage protos and SMS development, including sample status, comments, revisions, approvals, and deadlines.
• Coordinate fit sessions with Design and ensure comments are communicated to factories within established timelines.
• Ensure production BOMs are finalized only after fabric, color, trim, and other approvals are complete.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date product information in WFX, Momentis, and other internal systems.
• Work closely with vendors and factories to obtain development and production costing.
• Review FOB/DDP costing, fabric consumption, labor, trims, minimums, duties, tariffs, and other applicable costs.
• Ensure vendors are quoting based on approved production specifications and required quantities.
• Challenge cost increases and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising design intent or quality.
• Manage vendor negotiations regarding MOQ, pricing, lead times, development charges, and production requirements.
• Support sourcing and vendor allocation decisions based on capability, quality, pricing, capacity, and delivery requirements.
• Manage the transition from development into production and ensure all production requirements are finalized before booking.
• Track production orders from placement through shipment.
• Monitor production calendars, approvals, fabric/trim readiness, cutting, sewing, finishing, inspections, and shipment.
• Identify potential production delays and proactively communicate risks and corrective actions.
• Partner with Production and Logistics to ensure goods ship according to the required delivery schedule.
• Review and resolve production issues, including quality, workmanship, quantity, delivery, and cost discrepancies.
• Ensure factories follow approved samples, TPs, BOMs, and quality standards.
• Act as the primary point of contact between Design, PD, Technical Design, Production, vendors, and factories.
• Lead regular status updates and communicate key development and production risks to management.
• Establish clear priorities and follow up on outstanding actions across multiple teams.
• Ensure all teams are working from the latest approved information.
• Escalate issues requiring management approval, including significant cost changes, production delays, quality concerns, and vendor issues.
• Maintain accurate product and production information in WFX/PLM and Momentis.
• Track development and production status against seasonal calendars.
• Prepare and maintain development, costing, production, and delivery reports.
• Ensure approved costing and production information is properly documented and available to the appropriate teams.
• Monitor key milestones and provide regular reporting to management.

Skills

Product development

Vendor negotiations

Costing

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Excel advanced

Overseas factories

Tools

WFX

Momentis

Job description

Location: New York, NY | Schedule: Full-time, on-site

Overview

A contemporary fashion company is seeking an experienced Product Development/Production Manager to oversee the product lifecycle from initial concept through final production. This role serves as the key liaison between Design, Technical Design, vendors, factories, and Production to ensure products are developed and produced on time, at the approved quality level, and within established cost targets.

What you'll do

• Manage the product development process from initial design handoff through prototype, SMS, and production
• Review and track TPs, BOMs, measurements, construction details, fabrics, trims, and development requirements
• Partner with Design to ensure product information is complete and accurate before development
• Manage protos and SMS development, including sample status, comments, revisions, approvals, and deadlines
• Coordinate fit sessions with Design and ensure comments are communicated to factories within established timelines
• Ensure production BOMs are finalized only after fabric, color, trim, and other approvals are complete
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date product information in WFX, Momentis, and other internal systems
• Work closely with vendors and factories to obtain development and production costing
• Review FOB/DDP costing, fabric consumption, labor, trims, minimums, duties, tariffs, and other applicable costs
• Ensure vendors are quoting based on approved production specifications and required quantities
• Challenge cost increases and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising design intent or quality
• Manage vendor negotiations regarding MOQ, pricing, lead times, development charges, and production requirements
• Support sourcing and vendor allocation decisions based on capability, quality, pricing, capacity, and delivery requirements
• Manage the transition from development into production and ensure all production requirements are finalized before booking
• Track production orders from placement through shipment
• Monitor production calendars, approvals, fabric/trim readiness, cutting, sewing, finishing, inspections, and shipment
• Identify potential production delays and proactively communicate risks and corrective actions
• Partner with Production and Logistics to ensure goods ship according to the required delivery schedule
• Review and resolve production issues, including quality, workmanship, quantity, delivery, and cost discrepancies
• Ensure factories follow approved samples, TPs, BOMs, and quality standards
• Act as the primary point of contact between Design, PD, Technical Design, Production, vendors, and factories
• Lead regular status updates and communicate key development and production risks to management
• Establish clear priorities and follow up on outstanding actions across multiple teams
• Ensure all teams are working from the latest approved information
• Escalate issues requiring management approval, including significant cost changes, production delays, quality concerns, and vendor issues
• Maintain accurate product and production information in WFX/PLM and Momentis
• Track development and production status against seasonal calendars
• Prepare and maintain development, costing, production, and delivery reports
• Ensure approved costing and production information is properly documented and available to the appropriate teams
• Monitor key milestones and provide regular reporting to management

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in fashion product development, production, or product management
• Strong understanding of the women's contemporary fashion market and product lifecycle
• Experience working directly with overseas factories and vendors
• Strong knowledge of apparel construction, fabrics, trims, costing, and manufacturing processes
• Experience managing protos, SMS, production approvals, and delivery timelines
• Strong costing and negotiation skills
• Experience with PLM/product development systems
• Advanced Excel skills and strong organizational abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple brands, categories, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues early and drive solutions
• Willingness to work closely with international vendors across multiple time zones

Preferred qualifications

• WFX or Momentis experience is a plus

Why this role

This position offers the opportunity to serve as the central liaison across Design, Production, and vendors, driving products from concept through final production while shaping costing and sourcing decisions across multiple brands and categories.