At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development from concept to commercialisation, ensuring quality and sustainability.
- Company: Join a leading outdoor apparel brand committed to innovation and responsible sourcing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and supplier relationships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-quality products that meet sustainability standards.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development, strong knowledge of garment construction, and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Reporting to the Head of Product, the Senior Product Developer leads the end-to-end development and commercialisation of products across assigned categories, delivering against cost, margin, quality and critical path objectives. Managing the Product Development and Materials team, you will lead product, technical, sustainability, compliance and supplier activities, working closely with Design, Production and suppliers to deliver commercially successful products that meet Rohan's standards for quality, performance, fit, durability and responsible sourcing.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development & Commercialisation
- Lead product and material development in line with seasonal strategy, range plans and critical paths.
- Manage and develop the Product Development and Materials team.
- Partner with Design, Production and suppliers to meet quality, performance, sustainability, cost and margin objectives.
- Oversee specifications, BOMs, testing requirements and development documentation within Range Grid and related systems.
- Lead sample reviews, product approvals and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Critical Path & Delivery
- Own development critical paths and seasonal milestones.
- Coordinate prototypes, fit reviews, testing, compliance and production readiness.
- Identify and resolve risks impacting cost, quality, compliance or delivery.
- Ensure approvals, testing and reporting are completed on time.
- Align cross-functional teams to ensure products are buy-ready and production-ready.
- Cost & Value Engineering
- Deliver target cost, margin and commercial objectives.
- Review supplier costings and identify value engineering opportunities.
- Optimise materials, construction and manufacturing methods while maintaining product integrity.
- Support supplier benchmarking, negotiations and continuous improvement.
- Fit, Technical Standards & Performance
- Own Rohan fit blocks, grading and technical standards.
- Lead fit sessions and provide technical direction through to production approval.
- Maintain measurement specifications, construction standards and workmanship requirements.
- Review samples and approve manufacturing methods, ensuring products meet performance, quality and durability standards.
- Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure products meet quality, safety, compliance and responsible sourcing requirements.
- Lead technical risk assessments, testing programmes and compliance approvals.
- Review quality reports, test results and supplier submissions.
- Investigate product issues and drive corrective actions.
- Champion supplier quality assurance and CFA programmes.
- Supplier & Factory Management
- Act as senior contact for suppliers, factories and material partners.
- Build strong supplier relationships that drive innovation, quality and efficiency.
- Lead supplier WIP reviews covering development progress, costing, testing, compliance and production readiness.
- Support ethical sourcing, social compliance and supplier performance improvement.
- Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead, coach and develop Product Development and Materials team members, including the Product Co-ordinator.
- Establish clear standards, priorities and ways of working.
- Act as the escalation point for technical, supplier, quality and compliance decisions.
- Influence stakeholders to balance design intent, cost, quality, performance and delivery.
- Promote collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
Skills & Experience
- Proven product development experience within apparel, outdoor or technical products.
- Strong knowledge of garment construction, fit, grading, materials, trims and testing.
- Experience managing development from concept through production approval.
- Commercially aware with strong costing and margin management capability.
- Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturers.
- Knowledge of product compliance, quality assurance and responsible sourcing.
- Strong project management, communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
- Experience leading or mentoring development teams.
- Proficient in product development systems and Microsoft Office.
- Organised, proactive, commercially focused and results-driven.
Key Measures of Success
- Delivery of high-quality products with reduced defects and returns.
- Achievement of seasonal critical path and production milestones.
- Delivery of target cost, margin and commercial objectives.
- High first-time approval rates across samples, materials and testing.
- Effective development of team capability and performance.
- Improved supplier performance, collaboration and compliance.
- Successful delivery of product, technical and social compliance requirements.
Senior Product Developer in Milton Keynes employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Developer in Milton Keynes
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like All The Top Bananas!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at All The Top Bananas would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at All The Top Bananas through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Developer in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Senior Product Developer, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Senior Product Developer position at All The Top Bananas. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
