Studio Ellis is looking for an experienced Product Development Manager to join the London studio and play a key role in managing collections from initial design handover through to production approval.

This is a hands-on product development position, not a design role.  Studio Ellis is looking for someone with strong technical garment knowledge who combines excellent organisation with commercial awareness and the confidence to work directly with factories and suppliers.

Working closely with our Head of Design, Garment Technologist/Product Developer and Production Coordinator, the Product Development Manager will help ensure that products are developed accurately, commercially and on schedule across our bridal and occasionwear collections.  This will include taking ownership of the development process surrounding the technical fit and specification work, ensuring samples, costings, factory communication and critical paths are managed effectively.

Responsibilities of the Product Development Manager include:

• Managing sample ordering, tracking and development critical paths across four brands
• Preparing samples and information for fittings and ensuring actions are followed through
• Managing factory communication, chasing and development follow-up
• Managing product costings, target prices and commercial development considerations
• Coordinating development from design handover through to production approval
• Reviewing salesman samples and pre-production samples against approved specifications
• Identifying and resolving construction, quality and development issues with factories
• Ensuring product information and development trackers remain accurate and up to date
• Managing the handover of approved products into production
• Working closely with and supporting the Production Coordinator
• Providing a clear point of escalation for product-development and production issues
• Supporting CADs, technical packs, specifications, fittings and sample comments when required
• Maintaining high standards of construction, fit and finish across all collections
• Helping improve development processes and ways of working across the department
• This reflects the intended division in the master brief: the new hire takes responsibility for sample management, factory follow-up, costing, development calendars and pre-production/handover while remaining technically capable of covering CADs and comments. 

What Studio Ellis is looking for:

• Substantial hands-on experience in product development, garment technology or technical product development within womenswear.
• Strong experience developing womenswear from initial design through to production
• Excellent knowledge of garment construction, fit and finishing
• Experience working with structured garments; bridal, occasionwear, eveningwear or luxury womenswear experience would be particularly valuable
• Strong fitting and technical problem-solving skills
• Experience creating and interpreting CADs, technical packs, specifications and sample comments
• Experience communicating directly with overseas factories and suppliers
• Good understanding of product costing and target pricing
• Experience managing samples and development critical paths
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• The confidence to take ownership and make decisions rather than simply coordinate
• The ability to manage multiple collections and deadlines simultaneously
• A collaborative, practical and solutions-focused approach
• Equally comfortable at a fitting, reviewing a technical pack, discussing construction with a factory, analysing a costing and managing a development deadline.
• Experience managing or supporting junior production/product-development team members is a plus.

Application

Apply with a CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability and interest.