Sanmar - Issaquah, WA
posted 3 months ago
At SanMar, the work you do makes a difference. The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and production of SanMar products. This role leads the development process from initial concept to commercialized product, working closely with the product and merchandising teams to drive new product development, cost savings, responsible sourcing, and customer satisfaction. The Product Development Manager also supports the training and development of junior staff within the Product Development Team. In this position, you will lead and drive the product development process from design, materials, and trim concepts into a manufacturable, top-quality, and commercialized finished product while managing the product's life cycle. You will develop fabric, trims, and styles with suppliers, oversee color development and management, including lab dips and bulk materials. Additionally, you will research emerging material, trim, and style trends by attending material and industry shows and meeting with suppliers, mills, and factories to present innovative ideas. Collaboration is key in this role, as you will work closely with Technical Design to ensure an efficient fit process with minimum prototypes, address quality concerns, and offer alternative construction for cost consideration. You will also be expected to be an expert in product knowledge in assigned product categories, collaborating with cross-functional teams on the design and engineering of seasonal development and proposing viable new products to brand partners. Understanding key cost drivers affecting product development is crucial to ensure that the materials selected can be commercialized into compelling and profitable products. You will execute seasonal development calendars to meet deadlines, costing KPIs, and quality standards, while managing monthly capacities and work-in-progress reports to ensure on-time delivery of products. Furthermore, you will manage suppliers through transparent communication and responsible purchasing practices to ensure the product is delivered on time and meets SanMar's quality and compliance requirements. In addition, you will collaborate with the Sourcing Team to establish Global Sourcing Strategies by assessing suppliers, developing risk mitigation strategies for Key Programs, and establishing and strengthening supplier relationships. Ensuring the global quality program is fully executed across the entire product development lifecycle is also part of your responsibilities, along with supporting social compliance and safety standards requirements to ensure the supply base meets them. Finally, you will help train team members in product line, design, and management, and perform other duties as assigned while complying with all policies and standards.