Senior Manager, Product Development Apparel (Kidswear)

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Manage a team of product developers in the creation and commercialization of assigned products. Actively monitors development calendars to ensure deadlines, costing KPIs and quality standards are met. Acts as an advocate for product integrity by working closely with cross functional creation center teams as well as all related support services.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leader 30%

• Partner with Marketing and Design to achieve the goals and objectives set by the business unit
• Proactively communicate on an on-going basis with the development team and cross functional teams to ensure a smooth product development process
• Research new technologies and materials and communicates to Design and Marketing on new potential development options
• Supervise the costing process to achieve the best possible cost throughout the creation process
• Communicate to internal and external teams on seasonal product initiatives, process changes and longer-term category vision
• Take responsibility for Buy Ready performance through strong interfaces with Marketing, Design, Materials Development, Pattern, Logistics and Sourcing (Technical Services, Materials, Merchandising and Production)
• Manage team to achieve high performance by fostering a positive team environment, through effective delegation, objective setting, performance assessments, motivation, and training and development

Key Responsibilities:

Product Developer 70%

• Communicate all necessary information to Marketing, Design, Suppliers and LO/OC to ensure the effective and efficient creation of outstanding product 
• Ensure target price and product designs are aligned through predictive costing. Review, validate and approve T1 costing information throughout the entire creation process. Ensure compliance to agreed standards. Negotiate with T1 as needed

• Manage handover from design to T1 to ensure that all information provided to T1 is complete. Manage T1 feedback to design and marketing and incorporate where quality or cost can be improved without sacrificing product aesthetics 
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry by T1 regarding Article Description (AD)/BOM, costing or other data as required at calendar milestones
• Evaluate all prototypes for compliance with AD, manages fit approval/size specification, approval of color, accessories and materials. Manage comments to T1
• Ensure that all materials and accessories as well as prototypes are tested and adhere to adidas quality, safety and A01 (chemical) standards. Manage quality exceptions with senior management as needed
• If required, review size sets for accuracy of measurements and merchantability of complete size range including logo placement and fit. (LO/OC to approve size sets not requested by Creation Center (CC) and to review size sets approved by CC after buy ready release) 
• Review and sign off sealing sample with complete AD including all related documents prior to buy ready dates. Ensure full conformity to published policies to ensure a final legal AD for final product
• Research innovation from market or supply chain as far as garment construction, pattern/fit, embellishment, trims. Work cross functionally with Materials, Costing, Pattern, Sourcing teams and T1/T2 to implement into product creation

Key Relationships:

• Marketing
• Design
• Sourcing (Brand Strategy, Merchandising, Costing, Materials, tech Services)
• Materials, Costing, Pattern
• Global Supply Chain Planning, SCI
• T1/T2

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation (small and large groups) skills
• Ability to create, plan and effectively deliver presentations in formal and informal settings
• Ability to manage and motivate a team
• Ability to anticipate problems and develop solutions through to resolution
• Ability to cope with change, make decisions and act comfortably with risk and uncertainty
• In-depth Knowledge of production garment construction and manufacturing
• Advanced Knowledge of material construction and related testing

• Advanced Knowledge of wear and physical product testing
• Advanced knowledge of costing and ability to negotiate as required
• Ability to fit a garment and comment to T1 on changes required
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Strong IT skills ( MS office, PDM, CAD ) and ability to work with Product Data Management Systems
• Travel, domestic and international as required by business needs

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year college or university degree with emphasis on clothing technology and/or manufacturing
• Minimum 8 years of progressive work experience in the garment/textile industry
• First experience in managing a team