Apparel Production Manager - Peabody, United States - Misha and Puff

Description

Summary/Objective:

The Manager of Apparel Production is an innovator and collaborator who will continue to evolve our sourcing capabilities and process to support company expansion.

This role will leverage relationships and experience to collaborate effectively with the team internally and with our vendors to ensure timely development and quality production.

This collaborative manager will work cross-functionally to drive the development of beautiful quality products, maintain or improve the quality and fit and improve costing/margins of the Misha & Puff product line.

This position will maintain close alignment with the Design and Development team and Operations, working closely together on development goals and timely production.

Overall, this position will manage production in a fast and responsive environment to anticipate business needs as the company continues to grow and transition.

Essential Functions:

• Create/maintain a strong vendor base that will increase production capacity, expand current category production and improve margins. We have a strong base of vendors in Peru and are expanding to other geographies while maintaining M&P product quality and sustainability goals.
• Enhance margins and reduce lead times in alignment with Misha & Puff values and company goals.
• Onboard new vendors globally.
• Establish effective working relationships with all key departments.
• Lead, establish and align process and calendar to ensure that brand goals are met (i.e., vendor and factory base, fit and construction, quality, costing, raw materials and embellishments, on time delivery, etc.)
• Material ownership. Work with the team and vendors on projections to ensure materials are available and ready to use for samples, production and reorders within calendar timelines.
• Production. Manage vendor WIPs. Manage TOP approvals. Ensure on time delivery and quality production.
• Track PO Dates, Xfactory dates and communicate cross functionally any updates or delays.
• Use production experience, history and countersourcing efforts to lead selection for seasonal vendor allocation, taking into consideration vendor capacity and time lines for a successful collection.
• Own costing, MSRPs, Sizing for all products. Confirm all of this is correctly represented on POs, in Joor (wholesale materials), in Air Table and on the website.
• Proactively work with all vendors on calendars and capacity to ensure ontime and beautiful products. Summarize vendor capacity and timing several weeks prior to PO placement.

Costing

• Analyze costing breakdowns by product category to achieve and maintain margin goals by category; collaborate regularly with key stakeholders to ensure margin goals and strategies are consistently executed.
• Own the entire costing process and negotiations for manufacturing partners and mills. Maintain costing and retail databases so they are easily accessible and reviewed every season prior at the line review.
• Provide product target costs at sample request submission to vendors according to established company guidelines.
• Manage the PO process, including submitting POs to vendors, reconciling invoicing and vendor payments.

Travel:
Travel is required up to 10% of the time for short periods, both internationally and domestic. Anticipate two trips per year to visit vendor/factories with additional travel to resolve issues, as needed. Must hold a valid Passport.


Location:
Peabody, MA. This position is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days in the office.


Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field required, Master's preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in development and production within Apparel and Accessories. Strong preference to knitwear and luxury brands with South America, European, India sourcing experience.
• Deep understanding of and experience with global trade in têxtiles and apparel Sourcing processes.
• Experience traveling and working directly with vendors overseas.
• Multicultural international business experience.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Solid technical knowledge of raw material manufacturing, garment manufacturing and total garment cost.
• Solid understanding of fit and design modifications that affect cost.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Indepth knowledge of the apparel retail industry.
• Indepth knowledge of logístical operations.

About Misha & Puff:

Misha and Puff was founded in 2011 by Anna Wallack after her baby son spent his first New England winter keeping warm and cozy while swaddled head-to-toe in knits she had made.

Drawing on years of experience as a stylist and a deep understanding of what works well for little ones, we have created a luxury collection for children and infants.

We believe in making beautiful, functional pieces to last forever.

Each and every Misha & Puff piece is lovingly hand knit in Peru by our talented team of women knitters and artisans.

We work with the best natural fibers,