The North Face: Senior Manager, Innovation Development (Global Apparel)
VF Corporation
- Denver, CO
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Leads the product development process from concept through to production-ready hand-off, ensuring both fit and technical engineering meets or exceeds expectation.
- Drive rapid prototyping process in partnership with Denver Prototyping lab and 3rd party vendors
- Ensures team is delivering to key functional responsibilities including:
- Execution of concept samples in support of new material technologies and design creative vision
- Developing BOMs in support of tech pack creation
- Evaluating all samples for correct fit, cost, and construction, ensuring technical specifications and are within tolerance
- Own relationship with Regional Sourcing Offices and cut/sew vendors to build partnership in executing complex and technical product constructions
- Partner with Technical Development, Design and Material Engineering to work w/ manufacturers to develop new materials, construction techniques, processes, and samples used to feed the innovation pipeline with technically superior product technologies
- Prepares and maintains seasonal project list and routine status reporting. Utilize project management tools to accurately track developments against a given timeline
- Communicate development updates to cross functional teammates to ensure transparency of project tracking
- Determine and coordinate which styles should be ordered for field testing at each phase of the product creation process
- Manage a team of product development and construction experts
- Passionate about leading and driving a team to create innovative premium performance products
- 8+ years of experience in apparel as a business leader with major business driving functions including product development, technical development, or prototyping
- 2+ years proven management experience leading a team in technical product development
- Fluent in English, any other language is a plus
- Strong product acumen with working knowledge of apparel product development processes, including design, development, sourcing, and manufacturing
- Strong ability to inspire and build a mindset and culture of innovation within your team and beyond
- Proficient in creation and maintenance of project management tools for driving short term, medium term, and complex projects (ex. Smartsheet)
- Deep understanding of product commercialization, cost engineering, & vendor relations
- Superior project planning with an ability to develop and manage multiple timelines and deadlines
- Growth mindset and enthusiasm for learning new tools and problem-solving
- Excellent collaboration skills, including a proven ability to communicate with various levels of management and employees within the organization
- Active participant in the product you are designing for – passion for your work equal to your passion for getting outside and living it
- Able to make tough decisions and take calculated risks while holding others accountable for making sound decisions
- Understanding of trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity requirements, product cycle timeline and basic production process.
- Proactive approach to identifying the root cause of issues, seeking the best solutions with a value driven commitment to do what is right
- Working knowledge of Web PDM and PLM data management systems