Overview
Director of Apparel Development and Production Jobs in Peabody at Misha and Puff
The Director of Development & Production is responsible for leading product development, sourcing, production, and quality strategy for an international omnichannel children’s fashion brand. This role ensures that every product is developed and delivered to meet the company’s standards for design, quality, margin, and speed-to-market while supporting the needs of wholesale, direct-to-consumer, retail, and international distribution channels.
As a key member of the leadership team, the Director partners closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Operations, and Finance to execute seasonal product assortments from concept through customer delivery. This leader will oversee global sourcing and manufacturing partners, manage the end-to-end production calendar, drive continuous process improvements, and build scalable operational capabilities that support profitable international growth.
The ideal candidate combines strategic leadership with strong operational execution and thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development
- Lead the end-to-end product development process from design handoff through production approval.
- Develop and manage seasonal critical path calendars to support global product launches across all channels.
- Partner with Design and Merchandising to balance creative vision with manufacturability, cost, quality, and customer expectations.
- Drive product innovation through fabric, trim, wash, construction, and manufacturing techniques.
- Ensure timely sample development, approvals, and commercialization.
- Oversee Technical Design to optimize fit, construction, grading, and production readiness.
Global Sourcing & Vendor Management
- Develop and execute the global sourcing strategy aligned with business growth, margin objectives, and risk mitigation.
- Lead vendor negotiations including pricing, payment terms, production capacity, minimum order quantities, and lead times.
- Establish vendor performance scorecards focused on quality, delivery, compliance, responsiveness, and innovation.
- Partner with suppliers to implement continuous improvement initiatives and increase operational efficiencies.
Production & Supply Chain Management
- Oversee production planning from purchase order issuance through final shipment.
- Monitor factory capacity, production status, and shipment readiness to ensure seasonal delivery commitments.
- Manage material planning with mills, vendors, and production to ensure accuracy and on time delivery.
Costing & Profitability
- Analyze product costs and identify opportunities to improve gross margin through sourcing optimization, engineering, and process improvements.
- Monitor raw material trends, duty impacts, freight costs, and currency fluctuations that affect product profitability.
- Ensure product cost transparency throughout the development lifecycle.
Quality, Compliance & Sustainability
- Ensure products comply with all applicable children’s product safety regulations and testing requirements for global markets.
- Support ethical sourcing, social compliance, and sustainability initiatives throughout the supply chain.
- Drive continuous improvements in product quality, durability, and customer satisfaction.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as the operational bridge between Design, Merchandising, Operations, Finance, Customer Experience, and Sales.
- Lead weekly cross-functional calendar reviews to ensure alignment across development, production, inventory, and delivery milestones.
- Provide regular updates to executive leadership regarding sourcing risks, production status, margin performance, and seasonal readiness.
Systems & Process Optimization
- Lead the continuous improvement of development and production processes to increase efficiency, speed, and visibility.
- Standardize workflows, documentation, and operating procedures that support international growth.
- Develop KPI dashboards to monitor calendar performance, vendor performance, costing, and production metrics.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Development and Production organization.
- Build a collaborative, accountable, and solutions-oriented team culture.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Apparel Production, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in apparel product development, sourcing, and production.
- Experience within premium or contemporary fashion brands, preferably in children’s apparel or lifestyle products.
- Demonstrated success managing global manufacturing and sourcing operations.
- Deep understanding of apparel construction, textiles, costing, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
- Experience supporting wholesale, direct-to-consumer, retail, and international distribution businesses.
- Strong knowledge of global trade, import/export regulations, and children’s product compliance requirements.
- Experience with PLM, ERP, and supply chain management systems.
- Exceptional negotiation, analytical, organizational, and leadership skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading teams through periods of rapid international growth.
- Knowledge of factory compliance programs, sustainability initiatives, and responsible sourcing practices.
- Experience with demand planning, inventory management, and supply chain optimization.
- Strong understanding of freight, logistics, and global distribution networks.
Key Competencies
- Calendar adherence across all channels
- Inventory readiness for wholesale, retail, and e-commerce launches
- Vendor performance and factory compliance
- Team engagement and talent development
- Strategic and commercially minded
- Strong operational and financial acumen
- Collaborative cross-functional leadership
- Adaptable and solutions-oriented
- High attention to detail with exceptional organizational skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
Reporting Structure
Reports to: President
Direct Reports:
- Product Development Manager; Coordinator
- Production Associate
- Technical Design Team
Success in the First 12 Months
The successful candidate will:
- Improve development and production calendar adherence across all international markets and sales channels.
- Increase on-time deliveries and inventory readiness for wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer launches.
- Deliver measurable improvements in gross margin through strategic costing and sourcing initiatives.
- Strengthen vendor partnerships and establish clear performance metrics and accountability.
- Enhance cross-functional planning and communication to improve speed-to-market and operational execution.
- Implement scalable systems and processes that support the company’s next phase of international growth.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Peabody, MA 01960
Title: Director of Apparel Development and Production
Company: Misha and Puff
Location: Peabody
