Senior Product Development Specialist in Watford

We are looking to hire a Senior Product Developer to join our client's growing team in Watford. Reporting to the Head of Product and Sourcing Manager, you will play a key role in the business, effectively a part of the PD and Sourcing team. You will be working across categories of men’s and women’s apparel from initial concept through to bulk samples on in-house collections and special make ups collections. You will also be responsible for ensuring the product is produced to the desired quality, whilst assisting in the coordinating raw materials/trims and production in a timely manner.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Assist and support the Men’s and Women’s Product Developer with the day-to-day duties.
• Overseeing all aspects of operation work and costings.
• Collaborating closely with our design team to ensure the design vision is well executed, at a high standard and follows the Key dates on the Calendar such as overview deadlines and tech pack submissions.
• Involved in design approval process.
• Being involved in supplier allocation and making sure all tech packs and line lists are provided to suppliers.
• Responsible for creating measurements charts and sending them to suppliers.
• Communicating with all suppliers with any queries or questions.
• Making sure the Cad’s are uploaded on the Line Art.
• Going through the Supplier Portal for Main Labels, Wash care labels, UCC stickers, Security labels etc. for sampling and production. Making sure the factory use the correct ones.
• Going through the Catalogue against the Overviews.
• Approve lab dip, print strike offs and embroideries at all stages.
• Communicating with the factories for the Proto, Prebulk, Presell and SMS timelines.
• Hanging and replacing samples at each stage.
• Being involved in the Collaboration from start to finish.
• Attending fit sessions to make sure the products are fitted and amended correctly for each stage.
• Check the grade rules on the workbooks.
• Communicate with factories for FOB Prices.
• Prepare samples and make notes related to the product changes.
• Commenting and approving the PP samples to production.
• Being involved til the end of the goods ready date.
• Assist in the critical path management and attend the meetings with the Operations team.
• Send out PP/shipment samples to the Operators for approval or reference.
• Box and categorise samples to be kept in the rolling racking.
• Attend Operator meetings from time to time.
• Work on multiple seasons at once across a large collection both men’s and women’s.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Industry Experience: Minimum of 3 years in an Apparel Product Development role within the sportswear, activewear, or athleisure industry, working across men’s and women’s collections.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and an excellent command of tech pack development and critical path management.
• Organizational Skills: Strong multitasking abilities to manage large collections across multiple seasons.

Salary: Excellent salary, based on experience.

Other perks: Annual company bonus, 33 days holidays including bank holidays, Company pension contribution, Staff discount, Annual Salary Review, etc.