Senior Specialist, Product Development

Liverpool FC; Noordwes; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports club in South Africa is looking for a Senior Specialist in Product Development to manage clothing ranges and ensure quality specifications. The ideal candidate will bring experience in product development and strong negotiation skills. This full-time permanent role offers a competitive salary and a range of benefits including holidays, pension scheme, and employee perks.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance Cover

Financial guidance and mortgage advice

Car salary sacrifice scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Exclusive shopping discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Health Cash Plan

Volunteering opportunities

Special LFC perks

Qualifications

• Experience in clothing product development within a global sports or lifestyle brand.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Exceptional organisational and time management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop specific seasonal ranges of clothing in line with critical path deadlines.
• Produce accurate, detailed technical specifications for each product.
• Approve appropriate commercial branding and trim packages for each range.

Skills

Clothing product development experience

Negotiation skills

Strong verbal and written communication

Excellent administration skills

Proficiency in Microsoft packages

Interpersonal skills

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to join our Liverpool FC team as a Senior Specialist, Product Development. In this role you will be responsible for the development of specific seasonal ranges of clothing, in line with critical path deadlines.

What will you be doing?

To create products with the required features, costs and lead times for your specific ranges.

To produce accurate, detailed technical specification for each product.

To approve appropriate, commercial branding and trim packages for each range, whilst continually researching and developing new ideas.

To maintain the fabric library.

To assess prototype and pre‑production samples with the team against each specification and advise any amendments/improvements to the relevant manufacturer.

To approve lab dips, strike‑offs, knit‑downs, panels etc and to clearly feedback any outcome to the relevant supplier.

Chasing of samples from suppliers to ensure they are received in line with critical path deadlines.

To obtain cost prices from suppliers and to negotiate these, alongside the Senior Manager, Product Development & Sourcing.

To ensure style files, progress trackers and departmental records are accurately updated and maintained, so that progress against critical path can be tracked and monitored and all actions recorded.

To provide accurate information on all your products to the Product Team as required.

To attend fit meetings.

To present your ranges in a clear and informative manner during review meetings with the wider product team.

To monitor and highlight any potential delays / issues with bulk production and communicate this to the Senior Manager.

Who are we looking for?

The ideal candidate will have experience in clothing product development within a global sports or lifestyle brand, as well as working with clothing manufacturers across Asia and Europe. They should demonstrate the ability to present accurate information clearly, thrive in a fast‑paced environment while managing multiple priorities, and possess excellent administration skills with high proficiency in Microsoft packages. Strong verbal and written communication, exceptional organisational and time management abilities, and interpersonal skills to build robust relationships are essential. Additionally, the candidate should have strong negotiation and persuasion skills, along with knowledge or experience of working within PLM systems.

Why should you apply?

This is a full‑time permanent role working 35 hours per week. Your main base will be our Distribution Centre. Please note, this vacancy may close early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays and the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days)
• Contributory pension scheme matching up to 5.5%
• Life Assurance Cover
• Free financial guidance and mortgage advice
• Car salary sacrifice scheme for affordable driving
• Cycle to Work scheme to keep you active
• Purchase season ticket loans for easier commuting
• Exclusive shopping discounts & cashback with top retailers
• Will Writing Service for future planning
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support
• Medicash Health Cash Plan for everyday healthcare needs
• Volunteering opportunities to give back to the community
• Special LFC perks – retail discounts, partner offers, free LFCTV GO access, and priority tickets for matches, events & concerts and much more!

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Liverpool Football Club, we have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and are always looking to making a positive difference in the communities that we operate within. We are proud of our achievements in this area; maintaining the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level, becoming a founding signatory of the Football Association’s Football Leadership Diversity Code and being recognised as a leader in this important area on and off the pitch. We take our responsibilities in this area seriously and through the work being done across the club, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our people and becoming an increasingly inclusive workplace for all. We are committed to hiring great people representative of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills across our entire business. If you share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusivity, then we want to hear from you.

Safeguarding

Liverpool FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all Colleagues and Volunteers to share this commitment.

Contact Details

Contact Details: Liverpool FC
Tel: [phone]
Contact: Laura Hall
Email: [e-mail]