What's the Short Version?
The Sr Product Development Manager is responsible for managing product lines, developing product, and leading a team of product developers. They lead development and production across multiple Product Categories and brands. The Sr Product Development Manager leads the development process from initial concept to commercialized product, and manages and develops strong, lasting relationships with our suppliers and global supply base. The role works with the design and merchandising teams to create product strategies that lay out clear action steps to drive new product development, cost savings, responsible sourcing, and customer satisfaction. The Sr Product Development Manager is responsible for production management to ensure on time delivery of quality product. They also lead the training and development of junior staff within the Product Development Team.
What Will You Be Doing?
- Lead and drive the product development strategy and process from design, materials, and trim concepts into a manufacturable, top quality, and commercialized finished product; manage the life cycle of the product through approvals of prototypes to top of production.
- Manage vendor relationships for product lines; negotiate prices and resolve issues.
- Drive cost negotiation and maintain responsibility for the bottom line of product margin for responsible brands and categories.
- Lead the exploration and research of technologies, concepts, and materials that will add value to SanMar.
- Research emerging material, trim and style trends by attending material and industry shows, meet regularly with suppliers, mills and factories to present innovative ideas.
- Travel domestically and internationally on a frequent basis to meet with suppliers and visit factories.
- Develop fabric, trims, and styles with suppliers; oversee color development and management including lab dips and bulk materials.
- Collaborate with Sourcing team in establishing new business relationships and evaluating suppliers; review vendor score cards and develop an appropriate improvement plan for each individual vendor.
- Collaborate with Sourcing team to develop risk mitigation strategies for Key Programs; evaluate the risks associated with developed materials, trims, and products.
- Work closely with Technical Design to ensure an efficient fit process with minimum prototypes, address quality concerns, and offer alternative construction for cost consideration.
- Collaborate with cross functional teams on the design and engineering of seasonal development as well as proposing viable new products to brand partners.
- Execute seasonal development calendars to ensure deadlines, costing KPI’s, and quality standards are met.
- Manage monthly capacities and work-in-progress reports to ensure on-time delivery of product; collaborate with the planning team to balance order flows that fit with suppliers’ capabilities and capacities.
- Manage suppliers to ensure product is delivered on time and meets SanMar Quality and compliance requirements.
- Ensure the global quality program is fully executed across the entire product development lifecycle; support the requirements for social compliance and safety standards to ensure that they are met by the supply base.
- Responsible for coaching and developing direct reports/PD team in reaching their professional goals and objectives as well as department goals through consistent feedback and evaluations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Comply with all policies and standards.
What Are We Looking For?
- 8+ years experience in product development and production management or equivalent education
- Deep understanding of the garment and textile manufacturing processes, factory evaluation techniques, and vendor compliance requirements
- High level understanding of forecasting, buy planning, factory loading, and capacity planning
- Knowledgeable in component costing; including garment construction, raw material options, and landing factors
- Sound understanding of international trade agreements, HTS codes, customs regulations, and product safety standards
- Strong ability to interact effectively with global supply chain at all levels of management
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate goals and objectives
- Strong problem-solving skills with a results driven mindset
- Consistently demonstrate strong people skills, acts with professionalism, can resolve conflicts and contribute to a positive work environment
- Frequent international travel
What's Our Offer?
Salary Range: You`ll earn between $100,000 - $165,000 annually, depending on experience.
Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 10% of base salary.
Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi-weekly basis based on hours worked up to 112 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.
Additional Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
- Life insurance
- Short/long-term disability coverage
- Paid maternity/paternity leave
- Pet insurance
What Should You Expect?
Hybrid: SanMar's Eastpointe office is located in Issaquah, WA in the Seattle metropolitan area. Employees are required to work in our offices Tuesday through Thursday each week and additional days may be added based on business needs. Our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. Periodic travel may be required. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods while working on a computer and participating in virtual and in-person meetings. Frequent use of hands for keyboarding and standard office equipment is required. Occasional standing, walking, and reaching may be needed to attend meetings or collaborate in an office setting. The role requires the ability to perform close visual work on a computer for extended periods. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10–15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in product development and production management, or equivalent education
- Deep understanding of garment and textile manufacturing processes
- Experience with factory evaluation techniques and vendor compliance requirements
- Understanding of forecasting, buy planning, factory loading, and capacity planning
- Knowledge of component costing, garment construction, raw material options, and landing factors
- Understanding of international trade agreements, HTS codes, customs regulations, and product safety standards
- Ability to interact effectively with global supply chain stakeholders at all management levels
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong problem-solving skills and results-driven mindset
- Strong interpersonal skills, professionalism, conflict-resolution ability, and collaboration skills
- Frequent international travel
SanMar Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SanMar and has not been reviewed or approved by SanMar.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability, alongside an EAP and digital mental‑health and chronic‑condition tools. Benefits are often characterized as solid for the company's size, supporting positive views of total rewards.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with company match and per‑pay‑period vesting is repeatedly highlighted, reinforcing retirement support as a core element of the package. This straightforward match is framed as competitive within the company’s industry context.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off with holiday schedules and a dedicated family day are emphasized, alongside documented paid parental leave. Role‑specific postings also indicate PTO accrual that begins early and grows with tenure.
SanMar Insights
What We Do
SanMar’s success and growth can be attributed to one thing - outstanding employees who provide superior services and products to our customers. We promote a culture that recognizes the importance of a healthy work-life balance. Recognizing that happy and relaxed employees make better ambassadors for SanMar, we encourage initiative and participation by creating a casual environment that taps full employee potential. Family owned since 1971, SanMar is an award-winning supplier of over 20 retail and private brands of imprintable apparel and accessories, including Port Authority, America’s No. 1 preferred private label. SanMar is the exclusive distributor of Nike Golf, Eddie Bauer®, OGIO® and New Era®. SanMar is based outside Seattle, WA, with eight national distribution centers. We invest in your future with life-enhancing opportunities and benefits including: • Competitive pay and bonuses • Competitive benefits • Company paid time off (PTO) • Life insurance • 401(k) plan with matching fund • Flexible spending program • Anniversary awards • Discounts on brand name clothing • Diverse and laid-back atmosphere • One floating family holiday every year • Monthly employee events • Charitable giving of your choice • Flexible schedules We’re growing and encourage you to find out what over 4,000 employees call the “The SanMar Difference.” SanMar is currently accepting resumes for those who have the necessary skills. SanMar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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