Summary
The Product Development & Atelier Manager coordinates garment development from design through handoff to production and ensures patterns and samples meet the brand's quality and construction standards. This role manages factory sample production, BOMs and POs in the PLM, and oversees daily atelier operations and resource allocation. The manager also supports show/shoot and market preparation while tracking budget and seasonal timelines.
Responsibilities
- Maintain seasonal development calendar and track milestones to ensure timely fittings, sample reviews, and approvals.
- Attend fittings, document notes and photos, and distribute instructions to patternmakers, tech design, and factories.
- Manage factory sample making, issue development POs, build BOMs in PLM, and review/approve factory invoices.
- Oversee distribution of seasonal fabrics and materials, monitor deadlines, and maintain WIP and BOM records for each style.
- Manage atelier workflow, allocations, inventory, equipment maintenance, and sourcing/onboarding of freelance staff.
- Provide technical expertise on construction and finishings, liaise between design and patternmaking, and implement quality control standards.
- Assist with show/shoot and market preparation and ensure smooth handoff of developments to the production team.
Requirements
- College degree or equivalent experience in Product Development.
- 5-10 years of product development experience in apparel, with hands-on atelier management.
- Experience with product management systems such as GCS, RLM, or PLM and proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, communication skills, ability to multitask, and work independently to meet deadlines.
- Knowledge of BOM/PO processes, factory sample workflows, and budget/invoice review.
