WOW OUR CUSTOMERS WITH YOUR CREATION AND COMMUNICATION OF APPAREL & HEADWEAR TRENDS

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The apparel & headwear biz is ever-changing & we're looking for a team member to stay on top of emerging trends & help us bring them to life for our customers all across the country. As a Product Development Manager, this position will be responsible for building and leading our product development team and collaborating with internal and external partners to bring new styles to life in a timely & cost-efficient manner across multiple product lines.

This is an onsite position @ our HQ in Detroit Lakes, and some travel will be required to contribute to our value of Continuous Improvement as this team member will be asked to visit tradeshows and participate in other events to ensure our company stays on the cutting edge of resort and Collegiate fashion.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, hours TBD.

A Typical Day (job functions) | Collaborate with Team + Bring New Items to the Line

• Manage, coach, and mentor a team of product developers with a servant-leader mindset
• Collaborate with internal team, sales, customers, and manufacturers to develop new items
• Manage design process from conception to final styling for multiple product lines
• Ensure on-time product deliveries for each line
• Create new items in line with current trends and the target audience
• Evaluate prototypes and improve design
• Research and understand material, fabrics, and color characteristics and trends
• Attend regular design and product development meetings
• Conduct market research to identify new trends, fabrics and techniques, and seek design inspiration
• Collaborate with team members to select seasonal themes, make edits to the line, and create new concepts
• Ensure product is in line with overall business strategy
• Collaborate with tech designers to ensure development packages are accurate
• Review product for style and fit during presentation
• Proactive development to present to Creative team (CADs and samples ready for initial meetings)
• Present new products at customer visits and to reps at sales meetings
• Creative design of hang tags, labels, etc...
• Prioritize daily workload based on due dates
• Other responsibilities as directed (contributing to our core value of TEAM)

Skills (qualifications) | Fashion Forward + Design/Conceptual Aptitude + Servant Leadership

• Bachelor's degree in design or fine arts, or 2- or 4-year college degree in fashion design or related field.
• Team leadership experience, with a strong emphasis on servant leadership
• 5+ years design experience
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Adobe Illustrator
• Availability to travel for research and product development
• Excellent design and conceptual skills
• Excellent sense of style and color
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines

Cognitive or Mental Requirements of the Job:

Employee must be able to see and hear, read and write. Requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, judgment, reading, speaking, following direction, handling multiple priorities, reasoning.

Physical Demands:

NEVER: Push, Pull, Climb, Balance, Bend, Twist, Crawl, Reach, Lift 10-24 lbs, Lift 25-50 lbs, Lift over 50 lbs, Carry 10-24 lbs, Carry 25-50 lbs, Carry over 50 lbs

OCCASSIONALLY: Lift, Stand, Carry, Lift under 10 lbs, Carry under 10 lbs, Reach above shoulder height

FREQUENTLY: Walk, Reach at shoulder height

CONTINUOUSLY: Sit, Reach below shoulder height