Product Excellence Leader
The Production Manager plays a pivotal role in driving product development and end-to-end supply chain management. This is a strategic position focused on optimising efficiency, ensuring every garment meets our exacting quality, fit, and aesthetic standards while safeguarding brand integrity and achieving commercial goals.
You will lead the Product Development team, collaborating closely with Design to bring concepts to life, and managing relationships with both local and offshore suppliers. Acting as the key link between internal teams and production partners, you will take full ownership of the development process for all products — from initial brief to final delivery — while continuously identifying opportunities to enhance speed-to-market, cost effectiveness, and operational excellence.
Reporting to the Head of Product, you will work in close partnership with internal stakeholders, including Design and Planning, as well as external partners such as key suppliers, to ensure all design and production timelines are met and collections are delivered seamlessly.
Key Responsibilities:
* Strategic Supply Chain Leadership – Drive continuous optimisation of our global supply chain to improve speed-to-market, reduce costs, enhance quality, and strengthen supplier partnerships, while ensuring alignment with ethical, social, environmental, and quality standards.
* PDLC Governance & Critical Path Management – Own and enforce Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) and critical path adherence across the production team and supply chain, ensuring all milestones, handovers, and approvals are met to support on-time delivery and product excellence.
* Cost Control, Budgeting & Margin Management – Develop and maintain seasonal production budgets; create COGS forecast pricing for all silhouettes at style handover; negotiate directly with suppliers to achieve and protect margin targets; confirm bulk fabric yardage pricing prior to range/style handover; monitor actual vs forecast costs and implement corrective actions where required.
* Purchase Order & Quality Control Oversight – Take exclusive responsibility for all bulk purchase orders, managing third-party QC partners to achieve 100% DIFOT standards and ensuring quality pass rates meet or exceed brand requirements.
* Capacity Planning – Lead annual and seasonal supplier capacity planning to align production capabilities with business growth, range demands, and delivery timelines.
* Supplier Sourcing, Management & Compliance – Source, assess, and onboard new suppliers that meet our strategic needs and brand standards; conduct annual reviews and maintain up-to-date ethical certifications and compliance with country-of-origin regulations, labelling, product safety, and sustainability targets.
* Risk Identification & Mitigation – Proactively identify potential production, quality, or costing issues; recommend solutions to maintain brand integrity, commercial viability, and delivery timelines.
* Fabric Sourcing, Development & Innovation – Oversee and execute all fabric sourcing, development, and testing requirements; seek out innovative fabrics, techniques, and technologies to improve product differentiation and sustainability outcomes.
* Systems Ownership & Optimisation – Own and maintain the PLM system and related production/supply chain software; ensure data integrity, process compliance, and drive continuous system improvements for efficiency and visibility.
* Continuous Improvement Projects – Lead process optimisation initiatives such as supplier scorecards, workflow digitisation, and sustainable sourcing strategies to enhance operational performance.
* KPI Development & Reporting – Establish and track performance metrics for production, including DIFOT, cost savings, supplier performance, sustainability targets, and quality pass rates; present regular performance reports to senior leadership.
* Team Leadership – Manage, mentor, and develop the Garment Technician and Product Development teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
* Stakeholder Engagement – Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams (Design, Planning, Merchandising) and external partners (suppliers, QC providers) to ensure seamless product delivery and cross-functional alignment.
About You:
* Education – Training in Fashion Design/Development or Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Design or similar.
* Experience – Minimum 3 years' experience in a production manager role or similar.
* Supply Chain Expertise – Demonstrated experience dealing with offshore manufacturing suppliers.
* Leadership Skills – Demonstrated experience leading and managing product development teams.
* Technical Knowledge – Strong knowledge of product development process, garment construction, and local and offshore production supply chain management.
* Garment Specifications – Excellent understanding of garment specifications, product development and production process.
* Software Proficiency – Experienced with use of Photoshop, Illustrator and CAD.
* Niche Specialisation – Demonstrated work in active wear, preferred.
* Organisational Skills – Exceptional organisation and prioritisation skills to ensure business timelines are met.
* Communication Skills – Strong written and verbal communication skills with effective rapport building skills with a varied audience.
* Attention to Detail – Outstanding attention to detail with a high level of accuracy.
* Autonomy – Ability to work deadlines and work independently.