Reporting to the President and collaborating closely with the Creative Director & Founder the Head of Product Development & Technical Design leads the creation and execution of all products, translating the creative vision into production-ready reality. This role bridges design and execution, ensuring every garment meets the highest standards of craftsmanship, fit, quality, and performance while aligning with business goals for cost and efficiency.
This individual will oversee the full product lifecycle — from concept and prototype through production handoff — for multiple high-profile clients and product categories. They will lead a talented, cross-functional team responsible for technical design and product execution, ensuring operational excellence across a multi-sourced, global supply chain.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the evolution of an iconic brand’s product function — blending the artistry of couture design with the precision of large-scale manufacturing. The Head of Product Development & Technical Design will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, strengthening operational rigor, and ensuring that every product bearing the brand name reflects creativity, craftsmanship, and care from concept to client delivery.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Lead the end-to-end product creation process — from initial concept through final production — ensuring alignment with design intent, technical precision, and client expectations.
- Oversee product development and technical design teams, integrating technical design under one product execution umbrella for greater efficiency and accountability.
- Partner with the design team to translate aesthetic direction into executable strategies that balance creativity, cost, and production realities.
- Manage the development calendar and ensure cross-functional alignment on all milestones, deliverables, and deadlines across design, production, and operations.
- Direct sampling, fittings, and approvals with a focus on garment accuracy, fit integrity, and quality consistency across all categories.
- Collaborate with overseas manufacturing partners (China and non-China) to manage development and high-volume production.
- Oversee multi-sourced manufacturing partners across Asia, maintaining strong relationships, fostering accountability, and ensuring on-time delivery.
- Drive innovation and continuous improvement, optimizing processes, tools, and workflows to increase speed-to-market and product quality.
- Develop and manage budgets, cost targets, and margin goals, ensuring each program delivers creative and financial success.
- Partner with client account and operations teams to deliver high-quality outcomes for new client programs — from uniforms to performance-driven workwear.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration, ensuring clear communication between design, product, and production teams at all stages.
- Mentor and develop staff, fostering a culture of ownership, inclusion, and curiosity across a lean, highly engaged team.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep expertise in garment construction, fit, and production for both tailored and technical apparel.
- Proven ability to manage high-volume, global production with multiple overseas partners.
- Strong leadership and organizational skills, able to guide a cross-trained, collaborative team in a dynamic environment.
- Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement — always exploring ways to refine process, materials, and functionality.
- Strategic and hands-on; able to zoom out to lead process design while also engaging in the details of development and execution.
- Curious, thoughtful, and agile, bringing a solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge.
- Skilled communicator who builds clarity, trust, and accountability across creative and operational teams.
- Balances creative excellence with operational precision, ensuring both design integrity and production efficiency.
COMPENSATION
The target compensation is $175k base + other incentives.
LOCATION
This position will be based in Kirkland, WA
