The Director of Production for Girls, Infant, Baby, and Toddler Apparel leads the end-to-end production process, from vendor selection to final delivery. This role is responsible for placing and negotiating manufacturing orders, ensuring on-time deliveries, and driving profitability through cost engineering, vendor performance, and quality assurance. This leader works cross-functionally with Design, Merchandising, Sales, and overseas partners to bring commercially viable, high-quality, and brand-right apparel to market. Our Kids division powers some of the most beloved names in children’s fashion. Join our team to lead innovative production strategies and help shape the future of kids' apparel with products that delight consumers and deliver results.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with corporate resources to optimize global production and sourcing efficiencies across divisions.

• Conduct ongoing competitive and market research to identify innovations in fabric, construction, and production methods.

• Share relevant findings and trends with Design and Merchandising teams; maintain a centralized archive of materials, trims, and hardware.

• Evaluate and implement best practices in production technology and sourcing strategy for continuous improvement.

• Lead the development and maintenance of the approved vendor matrix, including evaluation of costing, capacity, and compliance.

• Negotiate product costs with vendors to ensure margin goals are met without compromising quality or delivery.

• Review and approve all final production buys; manage full lifecycle tracking from initial sampling through bulk delivery.

• Resolve vendor chargebacks, compliance issues, and customs classification in partnership with the Imports team.

• Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, and Sales to align on margin goals, ensure feasibility of product execution, and maintain development timelines.

• Oversee QA processes; define and enforce brand-aligned production and quality standards across factories and categories.

• Drive solutions to technical challenges related to fabrication, fit, construction, or production delays.

• Manage capacity planning, regional allocation, and performance tracking by sourcing office, country, and vendor.

• Partner with Planning and Sales to forecast demand and secure production capacity and raw materials accordingly.

• Serve as a key liaison between internal teams and external partners including factories, vendors, and global sourcing offices.

• Ensure proactive communication with Sales, Merchandising, and Operations to support fulfillment of seasonal demand and customer expectations.

• Represent the brand at global factory visits and industry trade shows to assess production capabilities and explore new sourcing opportunities.

• Lead cross-functional communication to manage production timelines, quality issues, and troubleshooting efforts.

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing production team; provide guidance, set expectations, and support professional development.

• Create succession plans and talent development strategies to ensure long-term team stability and skill growth.

• Monitor and evaluate team and individual performance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture that supports operational excellence and innovation.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Apparel Production, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field

• 8–10+ years of experience in apparel production and sourcing; strong background in children’s apparel (infant, toddler, girls) is highly preferred

• Deep knowledge of garment manufacturing including fabrications, construction, trims, and print techniques

• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills, with experience overseeing global factory partners

• Proven ability to manage complex timelines, solve production issues, and deliver cost-effective solutions

• Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Strong understanding of global supply chain, customs, and compliance protocols

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel), Adobe Creative Suite, and CAD; Mac proficiency preferred

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $120,000-150,000

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

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