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Director, Production - Men's Fashion
Fashion Industry Company
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Job Details - this job has expired, please see similar jobs below
Overview
Company is true blue American. Born and bred in Los Angeles, Company shipped its first pair of vintage-inspired jeans in 1990 and quickly became known as a pioneer and innovator in the world of modern denim. Synonymous with the easy Southern California lifestyle and the fearless American spirit, Company creates great fitting, good quality, distinctively Company jeans and fashion that works with the American lifestyle. Our collections are carried at better department and specialty stores and over 200 of our company-owned stores across the U.S.A., as well as online at Company website.
Rooted in Americana, Company is inspired by active Californian types like surfers, cowboys, artists, musicians, and photographers, as well as anyone who embodies our fun-loving, friendly vibe.
The Director of Production is responsible for establishing, developing and directing the production strategy for a product category and effectively directing the business relationships with finished product suppliers and our agents to leverage lower costs and reduced lead time without sacrificing quality. Recruit, hire, train and develop a team to manage the business to improve gross margin, on-time delivery and provide exceptional customer service.
Responsibilities
Delivery, Quality, Compliance and Product
• Responsible for directing area time and action calendar, including samples, lab results and test reports
• Ensure all products are in compliance with all applicable international/US laws and regulations are evaluated in accordance with LCI and Company vendor codes of conduct and compliance.
• Direct execution of any presentation samples.
• Present viable new sources for development to Production based on in-depth analysis of capability and capacity.
• Ensure order projections, commitments and purchase orders are submitted to vendors on a timely and accurate basis.
• Identify, present and develop new potential vendors that will support future growth plans while achieving IMU, delivery and quality goals.
• Ensure Production and Merchants are informed of potential production shipment delays and recovery plans.
Negotiation and Metrics
• Maintain detailed product cost sheets supporting activity based costing
• Responsible for negotiating program pricing and delivery
• Monitor quality and delivery KPIs and implement improvement initiatives
• Responsible for achieving area IMU and on-time delivery goals
• Actively participate in the development of the Production department strategic plan and own plant capacity and capabilities.
• Identify vendor capabilities to support and react to quick response programs supporting ongoing market needs.
• On a quarterly basis, analyze capacity and utilization of vendors and suppliers.
• Monitor adherence to purchase order commitments of factories.
• Work with vendors and Merchants to maintain adherence to orders while remaining flexible to changing business needs.
• Direct and facilitate seasonal negotiations. Conduct pre/post seasonal analysis and present to Executive management, Production, Merchants the KPIs, IMU status and improvement, delivery and quality metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to use data for decision-making and strategizing.
Product Development Management
• Direct seasonal proto and SRS strategy
• Negotiate with Li&Fung/factories on critical order/production specifications, e.g. delivery date
• Manage time & action process to maintain calendar adherence to activities and key milestones
• Ensure adherence to calendar
• Oversee the raw materials physical properties testing
• Manage SRS ordering and tracking process
• Ensure Design initiates the proto tracking tool
• Manage Li&Fung’s product integrity and order specification compliance (including lab dips, dye lots, washing effect, hand feel and shade bands, etc)
• Monitor on-time delivery of protos and SRS
• Attain 100% On Time SRS delivery
• Ensure Li&Fung updates and maintains costing sheets as product changes occur
• Ensure that fabrics, colors and garment components are being assessed by Li&Fung according to the quality requirements
• Liaise with mills, vendors and Li&Fung to provide technical advice and give direction for problem solving
• Manage fabric reservation process, confirm fabric and trim are available for proto development via Li&Fung
• Develop the production placement plan & manage fabric reservations in conjunction with production team
• Support negotiations with production team so target prices are achieved
• Support and provide information to 3 year plan
• Manage liability fabric, ensure development into those fabrics
• Oversee, maintain and report cost, delivery and quality KPIs for developed goods
• Develops and refines sourcing strategy and allocation plan according to category needs with production team
• Attend Concept, Proto Review and Adoption meetings
Research
• Attend tradeshows to learn new technologies and processes
• Leverage trade tools (www) to stay updated with trends etc.
• Identify new factories or expand facilities of existing factory base in the growing countries
• Maintain up-to-date on all industry trends and foresee new product opportunities
• Research and develop feasible fabrics to meet design intent
• Research wash and trim capabilities identify what is new in the market
Relationships, Communication and Personnel
• Create mutually acceptable solutions to resolve unanticipated shipment delays or quality issues to maintain on-time delivery.
• Manage and develop relationships with suppliers who are aligned with the Production strategy.
• Establish and execute relationships with Production, Merchants and vendors.
• Mentor, train and develop staff’s capabilities and professional growth as effective business managers.
• Demonstrated ability as an organizational change agent
• Ability to supervise a team which is multi-talented and has individuals with diverse experience.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in related industry--Textile Science, Fashion Design, Global Sourcing, Merchandising preferred
• Minimum 10 years of Production/Product Development experience
• Minimum 5-7 years leading a team
• Demonstrated experience in a variety categories (Knits, Wovens, Active, Denim, Sweaters) preferred
• Strong costing and negotiation skills
• Detail oriented with strong follow through - able to organize and prioritize multiple projects
• Has a sense of urgency in managing time and while accomplishing tasks
• Demonstrates proactive problem solving skills
• Ability to use basic retail math needed to determine costs, margins and turn.
• Create and maintain a cooperative team environment that promotes high performance standards and attainment of goals.
• Ability to react to change.
• Ability to solicit feedback for self-development
• Ability to create effective presentations. Strong people management/delegation skills and able to influence other
• Strong team orientation and collaboration