Hardgoods Product Developer

AFTCO is a fishing and outdoor apparel company with a legacy of USA-made hardgoods, operating three divisions: AFTCO Clothing, AFTCO Tackle, and Marsh Wear. Now in our 67th year, we are a third-generation, family-owned business focused on long-term growth through independent retailers and direct-to-consumer channels. In an industry increasingly driven by private equity and cheaply built products, we pride ourselves on being the opposite.

The AFTCO brand delivers products built for extreme conditions - from the freezing temperatures of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the humid summers of Costa Rica. We focus on durability, performance-driven fabrics, and lasting construction, prioritizing function and subtle technical design.

The role of the Hardgoods Product Developer will help gather execute product ideas against an annual catalog, owning the development process of these products through the time of production order placement. They will be responsible for daily communication with in-house teams, factories, and outside professional resources, including AFTCO ambassadors for product testing purposes.

• Identify and source appropriate outside professional help for the creation and development of new products
• Build and maintain accurate technical packages for manufacturing including BOMs, color, labeling, and packaging details
• Ensure adherence to seasonal calendar so that new products are brought into production in a timely manner by monitoring material suppliers, engineers, vendors, and outside designers
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and lead times
• Keep organized, up-to-date records in PLM, databases, and ISO documentation
• Oversee testing and field evaluation of prototypes
• Communicate product and packaging needs to internal teams and monitor progress to ensure timely completion of projects
• Daily communication with vendors
• Assure that brand standards and proper QC practices and procedures are in place at any new factories
• Assist production managers with inspection and production issues as needed
• Issue and manage purchase orders for all hard goods sales samples

• 5+ years’ experience in Product Development
• Knowledge of the sportfishing industry and the needs of the hardcore angler is a plus
• Strong understanding of hardgoods design, development, and production processes
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment and to process input from a wide variety of sources
• Self-starter, team player, strong follow up skills, and sense of urgency - must be deadline oriented
• Strong organizational skills are a must
• Familiarity with Full Circle, or similar ERP tools is a plus
• Skillset in Adobe suite, especially Illustrator is a plus

• Mid-Senior level

• Contract

• Product Management and Marketing
• Apparel Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at AFTCO - The American Fishing Tackle Company by 2x

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