Product Developer

Summary: The Product Developer role involves managing the entire product development lifecycle within the luxury or premium fashion industry, from concept to pre-production. The position requires collaboration with design teams, vendor management, and ensuring technical excellence throughout the development process. The successful candidate will also coach and support junior team members while maintaining strong supplier relationships. This role demands a balance of creativity and commercial awareness to deliver high-quality products on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the complete product development lifecycle from initial concept through to pre-production.
• Own and manage the critical path, ensuring key milestones and deadlines are achieved.
• Deliver prototypes and samples on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Identify development risks early and implement solutions to minimise delays or quality issues.
• Ensure products meet customer, brand and commercial requirements throughout development.
• Build a close working relationship with Design teams, acting as their technical partner.
• Attend fittings and provide technical advice on construction, functionality and feasibility.
• Develop creative solutions that preserve the original design vision while ensuring manufacturability.
• Collaborate with Product Engineering to ensure products meet required testing and performance standards.
• Develop strong partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of vendor capabilities and production capacity.
• Negotiate costs, technical specifications and aesthetic changes while protecting design intent.
• Support production meetings and oversee technical requirements for prototypes and pre-production samples.
• Ensure products are functional, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Conduct ongoing technical risk assessments throughout development.
• Drive improvements in construction, quality and manufacturing processes.
• Maintain accurate product data and documentation within PLM, ensuring 100% data accuracy.
• Coach, support and develop Product Development Assistants.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable and innovative working environment.

Key Skills:

• Proven experience managing the end-to-end product development process within the luxury or premium fashion industry.
• Strong technical product knowledge within a relevant product category.
• Experience partnering closely with Design teams to translate creative concepts into commercially viable products.
• Excellent critical path management skills with the ability to prioritise multiple projects.
• Strong commercial awareness, balancing creativity with cost and margin objectives.
• Experience managing supplier relationships, negotiating costs and delivering clear technical briefs.
• Practical knowledge of factory operations and experience working directly with manufacturers.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify and resolve technical challenges throughout development.
• A strong understanding of luxury fashion, market trends and consumer expectations.
• Proficiency in PLM systems, Microsoft Excel and Adobe InDesign.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: undetermined

IR35 Status: undetermined

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: Other