Product Development Design Manager (Apparel

TITLE:

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DESIGN MANAGER

DETAILS:
Irvine, CA Office

ABOUT TAI APPAREL:

Apparel manufacturer with US-based Design/Sales teams, and China and Guatemala-based Development/Production teams driving a fast fashion speed to market business model.

Specialize in knit and woven apparel

Design team specializes in trend, fabric, technical spec/fit, sketches, fit approvals, CADs, graphics, art separations and art strike offs.

The Product Development Design Manager is responsible for ensuring a smooth transition through various product life cycle stages. This ranges from the beginning of the life cycle through the culmination of the cycle/order. They will need to adhere to internal and customer calendars, understand deadlines, and be willing to find creative solutions when working with cross functional teams. They will also be responsible for ensuring that materials, product details, and general systematic data is accurate.

Passionate about the apparel industry product development

Innate understanding of sourcing, product development & production

Ability to deliver under tight deadlines

Knowledgeable in sales operations

Quick and eager to learn

Driven to execute

Self-motivated with a collaborative attitude

Operates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in role

Passionate about driving accuracy and efficiency

Open to flexible hours to allow for communication with overseas partners

Detail-oriented and customer-driven attitude

Self-starter & problem-solving oriented

Proficient in Excel, Word, and Adobe Illustrator

Generally, technology savvy

Extensive knowledge of product with the ability to problem solve and create solutions surrounding sourcing, costing or execution challenges

Previous experience in PLM systems

Hand off any new fabric developments to overseas PD team. Able to successfully communicate needs and cost goals when communicating

• Facilitate and ensure artworks & CADs are handed off to CFT for processing (art seps, creating Sample Request, etc.
• Sample Handoff :
• Partner with designers to hand over TP’s to Tech team
• Develop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.
• Partner with Assistant Design to assign style numbers for all new silhouette
• Ensure that deliverables post meetings are being met
• Artwork updates
• CAD updates
• CFT partners updated/kept in the loop
• Follow-ups/status updates on progress
• Build BOMs & TPs in PLM
• Ensure trim and label canvases and materials are up to date
• Assist in adding or building our new and specialty color specifications
• Ensure BOM placements are accurate.
• Assist with adding color specs to materials where applicable for style development – including but not limited to trims, artwork, materials, etc.
• Work with the Product Development Manager & Design team to ensure Data Packages and SR’s are ready for the costing team to pull
• Validate that data is correct in cost sheet and BOMs
• Partner with overseas PD team to ensure sampling questions are answered & samples stay on deadline
• Closely follow sample tracking and package arrival; track receipt in PLM. Notify team if there are any delays or issues

• Coordinate with Sales, Design, Cost and PD teams to ensure all data is correct in PLM. This includes ensuring final cost options are reflected in the style BOMS.
• Work with art team to ensure all final art sheets are loaded to materials within PLM. Cross-checking and ensuring that the art printing techniques match to the final cost sheet
• Cross check that license art in PLM aligns with concept approval
• Cross check that final design CAD images align with colorways in PLM (correct CAD/body/art)

• Daily check-ins with product development team to ensure all tasks are being met – stay flexible and willing to help where needed as there may be moments of downtime in between cycle development and order hand-offs.
• Work closely with Director of Product Development to ensure all daily needs are met from a cost, production and development perspective.
• DESIGN
• LEARN:
• Learn the internal Tai product design and development process
• Fabric, Silhouette, Wash Techniques, Style #, Technical Design Process, Sampling…