Product Development Lead (Apparel & Accessories) in Oxford

Our Brand & business has almost 20 years' experience in creating merchandise collections for clients from all sectors. We offer an end-to-end service from design, production and quality control, through to supporting sales and marketing activity and distributing collections worldwide. Through distinctive design and uncompromising production quality, we express the brand's essence and personality across the range, with roots in motorsport as a subsidiary of Prodrive.

As our new Product Development Lead (Apparel & Accessories), you will take ownership of the development and delivery of licensed apparel and accessories across a portfolio of global brands. This is a hands-on role responsible for driving product from design handover through to bulk production, managing timelines, suppliers and internal teams to ensure product is delivered on time, to the required quality and commercially viable. This is a leadership role requiring a commercial and creative mindset, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and a deep understanding of the product lifecycle in a licensed environment. You will lead a team of Product Developers, setting standards, improving ways of working and ensuring consistency across all projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end product development process from tech pack handover through to production sign-off.
• Ensure that design intent is translated into a commercially viable, production ready product.
• Lead all sampling stages (Proto, SMS, PP), ensuring critical deadlines are met.
• Take ownership of critical paths across all projects to ensure on-time delivery.
• Liaise directly with suppliers and be able to challenge and manage supplier input on construction, fabrics, costs and feasibility.
• Manage licensor approvals, artwork submissions and feedback loops.
• Ensure all products meet required quality standards, testing and compliance, managing GPSR and future product passport requirements.
• Proactively identify and resolve development and production issues quickly to avoid delays.
• Resolve production issues with a balanced focus on speed, cost and quality.
• Lead and support a team of Product Developers, supporting both technical and commercial areas and setting clear expectations on timelines, communication and output.
• Drive consistency and best practice in project management across the team, improving visibility and tracking of all active projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve development and production processes, reducing delays, rework and inefficiencies across sampling and production.
• Support the wider business in improving margin, quality and speed to market.

Who are we looking for?

Our ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years' experience in apparel development, production or sourcing, ideally within a fast-paced, commercial environment. You will ideally hold a degree in Fashion Design, Product Management, or a related field. You will bring strong experience working directly with offshore suppliers and managing multiple projects and critical paths. You will demonstrate a solid understanding of garment construction and production processes, paired with strong commercial awareness across costing and MOQ considerations. With experience mentoring or managing others, you will be comfortable leading team members while remaining hands-on day to day. You are highly organised, with excellent time management and communication skills, you are detail-focused, adaptable and solutions-oriented, able to work at pace while keeping development on track.

What can we offer you?

• An attractive salary which will grow in line with your ongoing development and impact.
• 25 days holiday + birthday off with an opportunity to purchase extra days.
• Training opportunities for continuing professional development.
• Onsite subsidised staff restaurant.
• Car and pension salary sacrifice schemes.
• Cyclescheme.
• Exercise classes.
• Paid time off for volunteering.
• Consultations with our Fit 4 Life expert.
• Social events throughout the year.
• Exclusive company discounts.
• Life assurance.

We are an equal opportunities employer. At Prodrive we are committed to attracting and nurturing the best talent and creating an inclusive workplace. We value individual differences and diversity amongst all staff so that everyone has the widest opportunities to maximise their potential. We aim to ensure that no job applicant is placed at a disadvantage by practices or requirements which disproportionately impact protected groups and which are not justified by the demands of the job. If you feel you are right for this role, we welcome your application. Come and make a difference.