Product Developer, Life Outdoors Sportswear

Role: Product Developer, Life Outdoors Sportswear
Team: Product Development – Knits and Wovens, M’s & W’s Sportswear
Scope: Individual Contributor
Years of Experience: 7+
Location: Ventura, CA
COVID-19 Vaccinations: Patagonia requires all employees to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment.
The Product Developer, Life Outdoors Sportswear Category at Patagonia will manage and drive the creation process of Sportswear apparel by transforming a designer’s sketch or two-dimensional rendering into a commercially viable product. You will guide the cross functional team in idea generation, material selection, construction, material sourcing and product testing. You will be responsible for managing communication directly with factories to create prototypes, test new concepts and refine the product’s construction and fit through a few rounds of prototypes, in a combination of 3D and physical. You will work closely with factories and in-house partners to review and finalize development costs prior to production.
The position requires extensive knowledge of apparel construction, product end-use, fit, and costing. You will be held accountable to the corporate calendar, as well as to the company’s financial goals. You are a team player, a master collaborator, a problem solver, and will work closely with a variety of cross-functional partners.
What You’ll Do

• Manage field and lab testing of products in collaboration with Quality and Field Testing.
• Responsible for execution of technical fit, instructing manufacturers on necessary changes in order to execute ideal fit for the end use.
• Develop and maintain accurate bill of materials for each style in order to support accurate raw material purchasing.
• Produce and maintain accurate product specifications.
• Lead the development process in order to achieve commercial viability of designs through collaboration with cross functional peers.
• Manage timeline expectations in order to ensure each prototype and sales sample are delivered in a timely manner.
• Establish any necessary off-calendar timelines in order to properly vet out new products or materials.
• Comfortable with ambiguity with proven ability to manage and course correct projects that fall off calendar.
• Coordinate all factory communication for the development of prototypes.
• Collaborate with factories and internal partners in order to achieve ‘state of the art’ opportunities for product innovation.
• Treat all cross functional partners with respect.
• Direct the development process in order to achieve commercial viability of designs through collaboration with Fabric Sourcing, Design, Trim Development, Line Managers, Production, and Quality departments.
• Partner with Production team and team leader to determine the sourcing strategy for the season.
• Ensure company standards for quality, function and reducing environmental impacts are met.
• Lead the cross functional team to stay on calendar for various projects including attention to costing, quality evaluations, testing and prototype approvals.

Who You Are

• Innovative - Proven skills at problem-solving and product innovation.
• Environmentalist - Deeply passionate and committed to saving our home planet.
• Influential - Ability to be a technical resource to others and a top-notch communicator.
• Adaptable - Ability to interpret design intent and offer alternative solutions.
• Resilient - Able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and give and receive feedback.
• Experienced - Ability to identify materials and construction technology that supports the designer’s vision and product requirements.
• Meticulous - Extreme attention to detail and ready to take on hard problems and see them through to the finish line.

Experience You Bring

• Proven performance history with domestic and offshore vendors and manufacturers.
• Comprehensive understanding of technical fit, and ability to fit both on model and on dress form as well as the ability to instruct a manufacturer on necessary changes to a pattern to influence the fit.
• Ability to manage product specifications.
• Working knowledge of personal computers with experience in such programs as Adobe Illustrator, PLM, Excel and Microsoft office.
• Strong understanding of sportswear apparel, construction, and manufacturing.
• Excellent understanding of the design, development and merchandising process from inception through to production.
• 7+ years’ experience in product development.
• Understanding of product costing and ability to offer appropriate solutions to help meet category margin goals.
• Degree in a related field of product development, apparel / textile design, technology preferred.
• Knowledge of material construction and properties, pattern making, costing, etc.

Pay range: $100,504- $150,756 USD Annual
Hiring range: $110,000-130,000 USD Annual
At Patagonia, pay ranges are assigned to a job based on the location specific market median of similar jobs according to 3rd party salary benchmark surveys. Individual pay within that range can vary for several reasons including skills/capabilities, experience, and available budget.
Employee Conduct
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
Patagonia requires all employees who enter a Patagonia owned or operated facility or who physically interact with others as part of their job duties to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.