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Pentland Brands

Job title: Product Development Manager

Function: Supply Chain

Location: Sunderland

The role:

As Product Development Manager you will lead, manage and develop a team of Product Developers to deliver compelling outdoor products that delight our consumers. Working collaboratively with the Prototyping, Design and Merchandising teams, you will be responsible for the delivery of product on time and in line with critical paths. You will work collaboratively with global development teams to develop product in the most efficient and appropriate way, whilst recognizing the cross functional product development expertise to add most value where appropriate. You will be responsible for the development of all apparel using advanced product engineering techniques with the consumer, quality and cost front of mind.

About Pentland:

Building a family of brands, for the world to love, generation after generation.

We are Pentland Brands, a global family business bringing some of the most loved active and footwear brands to millions of people around the world.

We own Speedo, Berghaus, Canterbury of New Zealand, Endura, Mitre, ellesse, Boxfresh, SeaVees, KangaROOS and Red or Dead. We’re the global licensee for Karen Millen footwear and Kickers in the UK. We also have a joint venture partnership for Lacoste footwear.

All our brands have their own unique identities and every one of them is powered by Pentland. We have more than 1,400 employees worldwide and we’re always on the lookout for talented, enthusiastic people to help shape our future.

We celebrate differences and give everyone the freedom to innovate and develop, be it through creative working environments or learning opportunities. Our brands are there in the moments that matter - being there for more people, in more of those moments, drives everything we do.

At Pentland, we’re guided by four principles, we use these to make sure we’re not only doing a great job, but we’re doing it in the right way:

• Success is a team game
• With clarity and courage
• Better as standard
• In good conscience

To find out more go to www.pentland.com or follow @pentlandbrands on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

The role you’d play:

• 
  Manage a team of product developers to ensure the delivery of product that meet merchandiser briefs, delight the consumer and achieve Berghaus standards.
• Work in collaboration with Prototyping and Design teams to reimagine how we develop product by utilizing cross functional expertise to support the sign off of patterns/prototypes as they are developed in house, or in our development sites.
• Apply flexible process thinking to complex challenges, understanding that change and adaptation is the only way to bring true product innovation to market and process efficiencies.
• Fully integrate global development teams to ensure relevant ownership of product range development to manage workload effectively. Be flexible in approach and utilise internal systems and PLM to maximise efficiency and empower ‘close to source’ responsibilities.
• Utilise cross functional expertise to create a multi skilled function with ability to strive for continuous improvements on product fit/functionality/engineering based on consumer feedback, insights and needs, developing and updating robust pattern libraries that future NPD will be based on.
• Develop a culture of ‘just enough’ approach to design and development with a laser focus on consumer needs
• Ensure that product briefs and margin targets are met or re-evaluated in a timely manner through collaboration with design and merchandising teams. Liaise with technical teams and vendors to consider manufacture feasibility and effective cost engineering.
• Develop and create tech packs in PLM to communicate requirements for Design aesthetic, fit, and construction, ensuring clarity and understanding throughout the supply chain, in line with all key calendar milestones.
• Be fully emersed in the development timelines for different product range and drive responsibility amongst the team for the delivery of product samples OTIF in line with critical paths.
• Confidently lead fitting sessions and proto reviews with product team for assigned products, instruct amendments to vendors to ensure prototypes accurately reflect construction specifications.
• Share technical expertise with development team members to support building specific product specialisms, to meet current and future needs of the product category.

The must haves:

• Team leadership/management experience with the ability to coach and develop talent.
• Technical product development experience within sports/outdoor apparel at a Senior level.
• Experience engineering patterns and garments to enhance margin, improve fit and reduce waste.
• Familiarity with Lectra Pattern Making and/or CLO 3D software
• Knowledge of garment construction methods in multiple fabrications (woven, knit, & engineered knits) and product categories desirable
• Consumer focused with a strong performance product bias and an inherent technical curiosity.
• Knowledge and experience of PLM systems
• Strong team player, with good interpersonal and communication skills with global colleagues
• Ability to think creatively, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to operate at pace with flexibility, initiative and be solution orientated
• Ability to manage multiple tasks & competing priorities
• Self-motivated, strong sense of urgency, collaborative mindset
• Excellent time management, organizational & problem-solving skills
• Ability to identify, work with & influence key stakeholders.
• Curiosity for change & learning, capable of managing ambiguity