As a key team member of the Product Development group, the Product Manager will manage the core OR category of Hats.  The Product Manager Brings a track record in managing a successful business and proven experience in product line merchandising, strategic sales and business planning.

Duties:

The Product Manager will be responsible for:

• Merchandising a profitable, market-ready headwear collection.
• Leading the design and development of technical, innovative and technologically enhanced products that meet the needs of OR’s customers and end users.
• Delivering products that drive company sales and profits.
• Demonstrating dynamic, visible and inspirational leadership to positively impact business initiatives, direction, and vision for team and peers.
• Managing and assessing business results, profit & loss and executing key initiatives.

The Product Manager’s key deliverables are:

• Manage the merchandising and design process for assigned product lines to meet established sales and margin targets.
• Develop, implement, and monitor processes to ensure timely completion in accordance with the product development calendar for each season.
• Effectively manage the product development process by communicating concepts, filtering input, and setting line direction.
• Partner with Sales, Retail Customers, and Athletes to ensure that new product development meets market needs.
• Develop a seasonal range plan that delivers against the category objectives for sales, gross margin, SKU productivity, and brand image.
• Create/communicate a clear and actionable design briefs for all new styles based on sales potential, market trends, and category positioning parameters.
• Approve all product and material costing.
• Create and approve accuracy of all product copy used for marketing and communications purposes.
• Present product lines at preview meetings, key preline appointments and sales meetings.
• Partner with Operations to coordinate sourcing from Asian suppliers.
• Direct the sourcing, selection and testing of all new fabrications.
• Coordinate field and lab testing of all new products to validate functionality / durability and value for intended use
• Manage budgets to meet corporate financial plans.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of Design Engineer.
• Manage SKU efficiency to targeted goals.

Critical Partnerships:

Designer                             

• Issue design brief.
• Approve new designs against brief.
• Coordinate and agree on fabrication, color direction, trim development.

Design Engineer/ Pattern Makers

• Brief on fit and construction requirements.
• Communicate sizing, fabrication, trim, and sample requirements in accordance with seasonal development calendar.
• Communicate/approve all raw material or feature changes made during the development process.
• Participate in all fit reviews.

Sample Sewers

• Give direction on sewing construction, featuring, and fit of all in-house samples and feature mock-ups.
• Prioritize daily work against seasonal development timeline.

Purchasing

• Approve final product costs.
• Coordinate on planned factory allocation.
• Supply any technical or new vendor information needed to realise samples or bulk production.
• Approve all quality or material specification exceptions occurring in sample or bulk production.
• Develop/agree on a plan for disposal of excess fabrics.

Marketing

• Proof read for accuracy all product copy used in trade / consumer communication tools.
• Brief and approve the development of all on-product hangtags or labelling.

Sales

• Validate the target feature formula, retail pricing, and preliminary forecast estimates throughout the design/development process.
• Coordinate on key account previews, and direct the developments of any key account special make orders.

Qualifications:

Experience

• Minimum 10 years work experience in a related position.
• 6+ years in management in the outdoor industry preferred.
• Strong understanding of apparel merchandising and sales.
• Experience in managing a diverse and creative group of individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and inspire a broad range of individuals to work toward a common goal.

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