About the job
As a Product Developer at SanMar, you will play a crucial role in transforming innovative concepts into market-ready products. Your responsibilities will encompass fabric and trim approvals, color selection, testing, sample evaluations, cost analysis, and ensuring compliance with documentation standards.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive the product creation process from concept to commercialization by overseeing the development of fabric, trims, and styles, ensuring prototypes meet approval standards.
- Create and maintain detailed Product Development specifications, including BOM, trims, labels, packaging, and necessary technical imagery.
- Collaborate with Regional Offices to negotiate costs, enhance product margins, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Coordinate lab-dip requests with vendors, working closely with the Color and Merchandising teams to manage timely submissions for Lab-Dip and Bulk Color.
- Conduct required testing for new and sourced styles with the Product Innovation (PI) and Decorator Relations teams.
- Maintain organized records of tested materials, samples, and testing reports; effectively communicate outcomes to suppliers, Quality Assurance, and Merchandising teams.
- Monitor the product development timeline as per the Product Creation Calendar across cross-functional teams.
- Manage the ELC chart and seasonal cost estimates under managerial guidance; deliver comprehensive costing analyses to Merchandising and Management.
- Review Pre-Production and Top of Production samples in collaboration with Tech Design partners.
- Oversee the seasonal photo shoot and salesman samples process, ensuring rigorous quality and color assessments.
- Ensure compliance with safety and classification requirements throughout the product development cycle.
- Address production and delivery challenges, promoting process improvements for timely delivery.
- Maintain the fabric swatch library, top-of-production sample library, style files, and sample storage systems.
- Review marketing materials for content accuracy.
- Administer the sourcing process for current products and programs, ensuring meticulous change logs and product databases are kept up-to-date.
- Willingness to travel domestically and/or internationally if required.
- Perform additional duties as assigned, adhering to all company policies and standards.
Qualifications:
- 4-6 years of experience in apparel or related industries or equivalent educational background.
- Strong understanding of garment and textile manufacturing processes, coupled with an eye for detail.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Proficient in managing multiple projects and adhering to deadlines.
- Ability to analyze costs and negotiate effectively.
- Familiarity with compliance and safety standards in product development.
- Proficiency in relevant software applications for product development and management.

