Avp, Apparel Product Development

**What you’ll do** The AVP of Product Development oversees all development & production activities within the Soft Goods Centre of Excellence, leading the PD team and setting the strategic vision to drive best in class product and ensure on-time delivery. This role requires a unique blend of strategic insight, business acumen, technical expertise, and leadership skills to shape the PD direction and deliver exceptional products. The AVP of Product Development collaborates closely with cross-functional teams—including design, merchandising, offshore, and innovation—to align development solutions that are feasible, responsible, and meet both business and customer needs. By fostering a culture centered on "Customer at our Core" and setting high standards for product development excellence, the AVP of Product Development plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall customer experience and ensuring the success of the Enterprise’s products from concept to market. **Development & Production** - In collaboration with Design, work together to fully understand product intent - Reviews and oversees issuance of all PLM specs (BOMs/tech packs) for accuracy, completeness, quality, affordability, and compliance prior to release - Recommends enhancements, construction and material options to elevate our brands, hitting financial requirements - Resolve engineering processes that do not meet design, merchandising, production or financial needs - Coordinates with PRO, manufacturing partners and cross-functional teams to manage development within calendar to ensure timeliness in protos, SMS, and confirmation samples - Ensure on-time handover of complete tech packs to manufacturing partners on behalf of design - Accountable for team communication with PRO/ vendor; assist team with design interpretation, provide council when reviewing market samples and prototypes - Oversees the maintenance of all standards issued for brand consistency - Ensure approved colors, materials and trims are reflect in production, addressing variances with vendors and Merch team **Sourcing** - Develop and monitor a multi-year vendor strategy - Works closely with the design teams on seasonal offering needs to provide options for components and techniques, and costs that are on brand - Work with PRO on sourcing options for components and techniques while building a tight, strategic vendor base - With the team, participates in on-going factory base performance reviews, and recommends improvements to factories, vendor base, and location **Product Integrity** - Aims to instill quality in the product from onset of development through final production - Reviews all components with an eye for quality, comfort, and performance - Ensures that all components and constructions used are compliant for performance and restricted substances prior to production. Works in tandem with quality, technical, and compliance to achieve these ends - Work with Innovation/testing team to review questionable materials and treatments in development cycle for performance and compliance to prevent a lapse in production **Calendar** - Builds, manages, and flexes pd calendar to ensure timely turnover of development, return of prototypes, and market samples and placement of final production - Monitors calendar daily to promote flow of development; apprises and resolves calendar variances with team and management - Manage meeting cadence and expectations for cross-functional teams during high-volume periods - Work alongside cross-functional teams on replenishment flow **Product Costing** - Manage pre-costing and develop strategies to meet/exceed margin requirement while maintaining design aesthetic - Identity opportunities to leverage cost benefits across businesses and banners **Leadership & People Development** - Promote an environment that fosters the respect for the ideas of others and supports ongoing collaboration to execute business strategies - Leads by example and operates effectively in the face of continuous pressure imposed by the work environment - Monitor development and performance of direct reports through regular meetings to discuss performance and development compared to goals; maintain a dialogue regarding their needs and concerns to aid in future development and increase retention - Drive the department forward through process improvement and best practices - Develop strong partnerships with cross-function teams to strategize on future state and resolve delivery and material issues affecting production - With design, merchandising, and PRO, manage liability issues, replenishment flow, PO discrepancies - Participate in weekly Cross Functional Meetings, Detail Meetings, and Milestone Meetings **What you bring** - BA/BS degree or equivalent life experience - Minimum 10 years in product development, sourcing, and/or production, including a minimum of 4 years in a leadership and team management role - Experience with PLM or other Product Management system - Strong