VP, Product Development

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About the Company: Rhone is performance‑driven apparel made by and for those in the pursuit of progress. Founded in 2014 by brothers Nate and Ben Checketts, we exist to inspire, equip, and support individuals in their pursuit of progress—both physically and mentally. More than just apparel, Rhone is a mindset, championing the power of being a little better every day. With a relentless focus on performance, innovation, and style, our products are engineered to move with you—wherever the pursuit takes you.

By the end of 2025, Rhone will operate 22 retail stores across the U.S., each serving as a hub for community, connection, and the Forever Forward mindset.

The Vice President, Product Development will work closely with the Chief Product Officer, Design, Merchandising, Marketing, and Supply Chain to lead the end‑to‑end development of Men’s and Women’s performance apparel. This leader is responsible for ensuring that all products—from early concept through commercialization—meet Rhone’s standards for quality, fit, performance, and cost. They will partner cross‑functionally to deliver product that reflects the needs of our customer and the realities of the marketplace, ensuring each style is executed with accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.

Strategic Leadership & Product Development Vision

• Lead the product development and materials organization across categories, ensuring alignment with brand vision, performance standards, and global growth plans
• Develop the long‑range product development and materials strategy informed by innovation, marketplace analytics, consumer insights, and sustainability initiatives
• Define development frameworks that balance creativity, technical performance, cost, quality, and speed‑to‑market

Product Development & Commercialization

• Oversee end‑to‑end development from proto through adoption, costing, fit, approvals, commercialization, and production handoff
• Partner with Merchandising and Design to ensure clear product value propositions, SKU optimisation, margin integrity, and successful category adoption
• Lead technical milestone meetings—including proto reviews, fit sessions, approval checkpoints, and cross‑functional readiness reviews
• Uphold design integrity, fit consistency, performance attributes, and brand standards across all product lines

Materials Strategy & Innovation

• Own fabric and material strategy to development, including research, innovation, sourcing, testing, performance validation, and compliance
• Develop breakthrough materials and performance technologies that differentiate the brand and elevate product quality; lead mill and supplier partnerships to drive innovation, exclusives, cost efficiencies, and sustainability to build future franchises
• Advance sustainability goals through preferred fibres, responsible materials, reduced‑impact finishes, circularity initiatives, and supply‑chain traceability

Costing, Margin Management & Operational Excellence

• Own the development costing process, ensuring IMU, AUC, and profitability targets are achieved across categories
• Drive calendar discipline and optimise workflows, adoption rates, proto efficiency, and speed‑to‑market
• Partner with Technology to modernise systems including PLM, 3D prototyping, AI sampling, digital material libraries, and development automation
• Build scalable processes that support brand growth across DTC, wholesale, and retail channels

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Work closely with Supply Chain, Technical Design, Production, Planning, Merchandising, Quality, and Marketing to ensure successful development and commercialization
• Communicate development milestones, material needs, and sample expectations clearly and consistently to internal teams and suppliers
• Strengthen operational alignment across the go‑to‑market calendar

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build, mentor, and inspire a high‑performing team across materials, development, and technical functions
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

• 15+ years of product development, materials, or…