Apparel Product Developer

At Fanatics Commerce, we’re more than just a leader in licensed sports merchandise – we’re a team united by a relentless passion for our fans and a commitment to innovation. We live by our BOLD Leadership principles: We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Product Developer (P.D.) is responsible for executing the Business through the entire development process from 1st proto to bulk production-ready status. This involves coordinating with the respective teams to oversee development, approvals, and production-ready status of all styles of the designated product line. Analyze the development progress, consult with management to fix items that are missing deadlines, and recommend corrective action plans if/ when timelines cannot be met.  

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

Concept Development & SMS

• Responsible for Calendar adherence by executing against the Product Development Calendar timelines and prioritizing the flow of materials, art, and Tech packs.
• Create BOM, complete Tech Pack, ensuring it meets global product standard and post them to designated database.
• Building and maintaining a close working partnership with Design. Acting as the technical partner for design, attending presentations and meetings, providing feedback on technical feasibility, brainstorming ideas, and solutions to ensure the design vision is translated into product meeting margin requirements & inclusive of pre-costing activities. 
• Partner with Sourcing on timely approval of costing, factory allocation & potential options for cost-savings.
• Work with internal cross functional partners to follow up on development testing and fix any potential quality issues through Risk Assessment covering entire design, development commercialization process.
• Monitor proto, SMS, or other pertinent sample delivery to ensure factories are hitting calendar timelines.  
• Drive SMS Buy Ready with cross functional business direct partners to meet on time performance for go to market & production buy ready activities.
• Support preparation for seasonal key milestone meetings; Proto/ Costing Review, Line freeze & TP Strategy Meetings. Ensure all necessary inputs & tools are on hand.
• Attend fit meetings creating calendar awareness on any product change request & ensure consistency across collections, inclusive to complying to all standards. 
• Identify downstream impacts of changes that delay deliverables & provide solution-oriented support to partners. 

Production Ready

• Input concept data points (Tracker, PLM, Box) are available & updated 
• Monitor & audit team out color-up on PLM.
• Preparing PP licensing samples for approval, ensuring they are on time & audit against approved tech pack. 
• Partner with the cross-functional team when issue is escalated as a risk to buy-ready, per season.

Daily Activities

• Monitor work in progress (WIP), maintain tracking and all PD-related record keeping, data input, and in/out parcel coordination.
• Facilitate timely communication with internal and external parties. 
• Compile weekly metrics & analysis to support PD KPI’s. 
• Partner with Sr PD/ Manager to identify opportunities within the process to increase speed, efficiency & quality. 
• Input report card metrics for on-time sample performance
• Support SOP documentation, distribution, and training relevant to necessary process updates for internal & external partners. Inclusive of being a SME in cross-functional SOP validation.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Bachelor's degree in Product Development or related field preferred or equivalent work experience
• 3-7 years of related experience in Sportswear development & management. 
• Technical knowledge of fabric, trim, construction, embellishment, and product engineering.
• Experience working for a US global company working with international factories throughout the region.
• A team player with a good attitude, strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in product line management (PLM), databases, and MS Office applications
• Advanced Excel skills. 3D development experienced is preferred.
• Must be detail-oriented, able to multitask, and punctual in meeting deadlines.
• Ability to juggle multiple deadlines and tasks in a fast-paced environment. Strong sense of urgency and intuitive sense of priorities and accuracy.
• Identify opportunities within the process to increase speed, efficiency and quality. 

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.