The Product Development Manager leads the seasonal product development process, collaborating with cross-functional teams across Design, Merchandising, and Production to create and execute innovative product lines. This role drives strategic direction, operational execution, and product innovation, ensuring alignment with business goals while enhancing the overall product offering.

Roles & Responsibilities

Strategy & Innovation

• Lead the development of seasonal product strategies for designated categories, collaborating with Design, Merchandising, and Production teams to define trends, color palettes, concepts, categories, styles, cost structures, and pricing.
• Develop balanced product assortments by combining key items, fashion-forward styles, and essential basics, ensuring alignment with strategic brand objectives.
• Implement comprehensive costing and pricing frameworks to maximize consumer value, working closely with Planning to incorporate best sellers and trend-driven assortments from previous seasons.
• Execute strategic product plans as outlined by the VP of Product Development, ensuring brand consistency and market relevance across all categories.
• Identify and capitalize on new product opportunities, leveraging competitive market intelligence and trend analysis to drive product innovation.
• Collaborate with the Director of Product Development to ensure alignment with the overall brand vision and cohesiveness across product categories.

Operations & Results

• Oversee the Product Development calendar to ensure efficient project management and timely delivery of products across multiple channels, balancing sales growth, expense management, and margin targets.
• Partner with Production to identify and secure new vendors and suppliers, ensuring a diverse and reliable supply chain that meets quality and cost requirements.
• Advise the Director and VP of Product Development on vendor allocations, managing risk and ensuring high-quality production standards.
• Act as a key participant in product review meetings, including edits, board reviews, pre-costing, and post-season reviews, tracking legal compliance and customs requirements, and addressing any quality or technical concerns.
• Lead the creation and management of Product Profile Sheets, ensuring proper tracking of prototypes, sales samples, and fit processes in collaboration with Design and Production.

Customers & Relationships

• Maintain clear and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, vendors, and licensors, fostering strong relationships across all parties involved.
• Collaborate with Production and Tech teams to identify new supplier opportunities and maintain strong working relationships with existing partners.
• Monitor and assess market trends and competitor strategies to ensure product offerings remain competitive and aligned with customer needs.

Leadership & Team Management

• Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, managing team dynamics and providing leadership where necessary to drive results.
• Mentor, develop, and retain top talent within the team, fostering growth and ensuring high levels of engagement and performance.
• Set clear goals and KPIs for team members, and conduct regular performance evaluations to ensure continuous development and success.

• In-depth knowledge of wholesale apparel merchandising, global supply chain operations, manufacturing processes, and mass-market distribution strategies.
• Strong entrepreneurial mindset balanced with sound judgment and a proven ability to lead and inspire teams.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, with a strong ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly detail-oriented with a blend of creativity and a keen sense of merchandising to meet customer needs and market trends.
• Expertise in garment construction, fabric sourcing, and production techniques.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Fashion, Merchandising).
• 5-7 years of experience in apparel merchandising, private label buying, or product development, with a proven track record in managing product categories.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, with advanced skills in SAP 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: $90,000 - $100,000

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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