Production Manager

The Production Manager will coordinate development and production of private label product across apparel, accessory and lifestyle categories. In partnership with the Merchandise Manager, this role acts as a liaison among external factory partners to ensure product quality, timely delivery, and cost efficiency. Through guidance from the Director of Retail & Licensing, the Manager will conceive and articulate product concepts, launch styles and own select brand collaborations. 

This position’s primary directive is to support departmental growth of retail revenue from existing and new channels. Through creation of a comprehensive merchandising strategy and strategic development of new product through key partnerships, the manager becomes an integral component to definition and expansion of the institutional brand.
Responsibilities 

• Proposes and develops original product concepts and merchandise assortments in line with market trend, brand identity, departmental objectives and institutional priorities 
• Creates and revises digital product renderings for use in approvals process and delivery planning 
• Generates digital graphic assets and manages artwork files,  including vector creation CADs development  
• Manage delivery calendar and approvals processes with guidance of director and collaboration of Merchandise Manager 
• Partners in concept process with external vendors, artists and designers as well as Curatorial and internal stakeholders 

Production 

• Builds and maintains production calendars, track work-in-progress (WIP), mitigate delays, and ensure efficient workflow from pre-production through final delivery 
• Manages all product costing and maintain detailed digital records across PD and Retail databases 
• Submits and traffics product development materials to, between and among, designers, vendors and artists/agents, obtaining color, design and quality approvals from mock-ups and production samples as required.  
• Coordinates artists and artwork licensing clearance with estates, agencies and right holders 
• Supports cost negotiations, analyze production costs and yield reports, and collaborate with internal teams to achieve margin targets 
• Troubleshoots production challenges, recommend process improvements, and proactively manage risks across the supply chain 
• Manages domestic international manufacturing, overseeing production across multiple contract manufacturing partners, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to quality, compliance, and cost targets 
• Enters and monitor catalog and inventory, remaining fully accountable to data fidelity and managing financial reconciliations 
• Facilitates payments of sample fees, deposits and royalties; setting up royalty codes, tracking and running sales and royalty reports, creating royalty invoices, and submitting payments to accounting for artists, partners and rights holders as scheduled in rights contracts and other agreements

• Comprehensive knowledge of highly confidential retail development and production budgets and expenses, product margins, and vendor terms 
• Full visibility to financial plans and maintenance of select key and confidential records 
• Thorough interaction with confidential brand partnerships regularly subject to terms of NDA

• BA preferred but not required; additional languages a plus 
• 3-5 years’ experience in production and/or development 
• Proficiency with Adobe Suite 
• Fluent passion for trend and product within and outside the museum and art world 
• Experience working with both domestic and international contract manufacturers 
• High level of adaptable technological proficiency across software and systems 
• Familiarity with Airtable is a plus, but not required 
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and vendors simultaneously 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills 

Compensation & Benefits: 

• Salary range is $65,000 - $70,000 and will be commensurate with experience 
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) elections 
• Generous Paid Time Off benefits 
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit 
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally 
• Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike 
• This position is covered by UAW Local 2110

The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors. 

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney: 

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today. 

EEO Statement: 

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law.  The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.