Director of Product Development & Production

Director of Product Development & Production Hey we’re Wildfang - and we’ve proudly been wearing the pants since 2013. Years ago we stumbled upon a mighty secret, which is that we can’t feel like our best selves unless we first feel like ourselves. So we built a fashion label for those who hate labels, and started a rebellion of sorts–dedicated to the belief that feeling comfortable in one’s own skin is an act of resistance. That same lil’ rebel spirit comes through in all we do–from the community we’ve cultivated to the collection we’ve curated: bold suiting, reimagined workwear, and statement staples in sizes XS–4X. All the ‘fits in all the sizes because confidence isn’t one size fits all. We are a women founded, fast growing DTC fashion brand available online & at our Flagship store in Portland, OR. Who You Are: You are a strategic product leader with deep apparel development and production expertise and a strong commercial mindset. You know how to take a product from concept through production, working directly with factories and partners to deliver exceptional products that support business goals. You thrive in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment where you can balance big picture strategy with detailed, hands‑on work. You love rolling up your sleeves, solving complex problems and making a tangible impact on a growing business. Highly organized, curious and action‑oriented, you take ownership, create clarity from complexity and are constantly looking for ways to make the product, process, and business better. Responsibilities + Duties: Product Development & Production Owns the end‑to‑end apparel development process and production process from design handoff through final delivery, ensuring product meets expectations for quality, fit, cost, and timing Oversee and direct all aspects of product development including materials, fit, samples, technical design and approvals, managing external development agency partners and ensuring product is production ready and meets design intent. Formulate and implement comprehensive production and sourcing strategies that align with company objectives, market demands, and seasonal trends. Build and manage strong relationships with manufacturing partners to ensure competitive pricing, quality and lead times. Establish and cultivate relationships with new factories when needed. Own product costing and margin management including predictive costing, cost engineering and factory negotiations, proactively identify opportunities to achieve margin targets without compromising quality. Go-to-Market & Product Operations Own and drive the cross‑functional Go‑To‑Market (GTM) calendar with internal and external stakeholders. Managing the critical path and ensuring key product milestones and priorities are delivered accurately and on time. Anticipate risks, dependencies and roadblocks, driving cross functional accountability, clear communication and timely resolution Continuously improve product development, production, and GTM processes to increase speed, accuracy and efficiency. Establish and oversee advanced reporting frameworks that enhance business intelligence and provide actionable insights and tracking of KPIs. Proactively report to leadership and the broader business on performance metrics. Work collaboratively with the Operations team on inbound logistics to ensure timely, cost‑effective deliveries, global customs compliance and optimal shipping methods. Own the accuracy and integrity of product data across all systems including all product attributes, data flow across systems, and proper tracking and key information. Merchandise Planning & Inventory Strategy Oversee Open‑to‑Buy (OTB) and inventory management, partnering with Merchandising and Finance to ensure inventory investments support revenue, margin, sell‑thru and inventory productivity goals. Lead and develop the Merchandise Planner responsible for inventory forecasting, unit buys, size curves, inventory flow and markdown management. Use sales and inventory performance to identify opportunities and risks, challenge assumptions and drive both pre‑season and in‑season inventory and sales decisions that align with business objectives. Leadership Lead and develop internal team members and external partners, setting clear expectations, creating accountability and fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. Manage our external development agency consisting of pattern makers, technical designers, and product developers. Serve as a key cross‑functional leader across product, design, merchandising, finance, and operations, creating alignment and driving decisions that balance product, customer, and business needs. Requirements: 8+ years of experience in apparel product development, production and/or sourcing with deep experience working directly with apparel factories and manufacturing partners. Strong knowledge of garment construction, fit, materials, and apparel manufacturing. Expertise in apparel costing and margin management, including predictive costing, cost engineering and vendor negotiation. Has solid understanding of GTM milestones and lead times. Solid understanding of demand forecasting, planning, and lifecycle management. Highly organized and detail oriented, with a proven ability to manage complex GTM calendars, competing priorities, and high volume of moving pieces while driving cross functional teams to key milestones. A high impact people leader with a track record of developing talent, setting clear expectations and holding teams accountable to results. An exceptional communicator and leader who creates clarity, keeps stakeholders informed and can influence teams to drive decisions and work forward. A proactive, solution oriented operator who anticipates risks, takes ownership and drives problems through resolution. Advanced apparel PLM experience required; Centric PLM strongly preferred. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel Portland,OR based Hybrid Work Environment with majority remote Unlimited PTO Retirement Plan Short-term disability leave including Maternity Leave Mission based company + entrepreneurial work environment+ Certified Climate Neutral Clothing discount, company events Salary Range: $160-180k Wildfang is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Wildfang Co.