Product Developer - Food Manufacturing

My client, a well-known Heritage sports brand are looking to hire a Senior Product Developer to join their growing team in Watford. Reporting to the Head of Product and Sourcing Manager, 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. This role requires someone from a Sportswear background.

Senior Product Developer- Sportswear- The Role:

• 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.
• 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.
• Work on multiple seasons at once across a large collection both men’s and women’s.

Senior Product Developer- Sportswear- The Person:

• Must have previous experience in an apparel product development role within sportswear and streetwear across both men's and women's categories.
• Proven experience managing buyer relationships, addressing product-related queries, and following through on feedback.
• Solid technical knowledge of garment construction, with an understanding of pattern cutting.
• A strong background in costing, margin negotiation, and pricing strategy.
• Direct experience working with Far East suppliers and managing offshore production.
• A high level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and high familiarity with cost/pricing formulas and margin targets.
• Highly organised, proactive, and self-sufficient, with the ability to manage multiple timelines under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.