Product Development Manager

About the CompanyPosh Peanut is one of the fastest-growing DTC brands in the children’s apparel space, loved by millions of families around the world. We specialize in ultra-soft, premium bamboo apparel for babies, kids, and families—known for our bold prints, elevated details, and signature Päpook® fabric. Built from a small LA-based business into a household name, we’re driven by creativity, passion, and the mission to make every moment with your little ones feel magical. If you’re excited by fast growth, big ideas, and building something extraordinary, we’d love to hear from you!Location: Glendale, CAJob SummaryThe Product Development Manager will lead and drive all aspects of product development from concept through production handoff, with a strong focus on fabric and trim sourcing, proto development execution, and vendor management. This role is highly executional and requires a strong sense of ownership, constant communication, and daily follow-up to drive development forward, proactively resolve issues, and ensure timelines are met. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is highly organized, detail-oriented, and excels at multi-tasking across multiple seasons, categories, and vendors simultaneously, while ensuring product integrity, cost targets, and timelines are met.Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development & ExecutionOwn end-to-end product development from concept through production handoff, ensuring alignment with design intent, quality standards, and production feasibility. Lead fabric and trim sourcing and counter-sourcing to meet cost, quality, and performance targets.Drive fabric and trim R&D, sourcing new materials and innovations, building a strong vendor network.Own the end-to-end proto development lifecycle from initial request through approvals, ensuring accuracy, speed, and alignment.Issue and track all proto and sample requests through Development WIP, with daily vendor communication and follow-up to ensure on-time delivery and quality standards are met.Evaluate fabrics, trims, and samples with a critical eye, ensuring alignment with design intent, construction standards, and overall product quality.Maintain and evolve fabric and trim libraries, ensuring standards, approvals, and sourcing consistency. Address and solve any quality issues with Production.Request and manage all FDS/TDS and new material testing approvals from development through production. Review and approve all bulk trims and labdipsOrder and coordinate sample yardage and trims with mills and vendorsManage a high volume of concurrent developments across multiple seasons and categories, maintaining speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.Vendor Management & CommunicationMaintain daily communication with vendors to track development progress, resolve issues quickly, and ensure adherence to timelines. Proactively chase all outstanding developments, samples, costs, and approvals—this role requires constant follow-up and urgency. Partner with vendors on problem-solving and alternative sourcing solutions. Drive accountability with vendors on Development T&A adherence, quality expectations, and development milestones. Lead counter-sourcing efforts to benchmark and secure best-in-class pricing, materials, and capabilities. Costing & Commercial AlignmentOwn costing from proto through production handoff, including requesting, analyzing, and tracking all cost submissions. Build and maintain a robust cost library, tracking vendor comparisons, cost drivers, and savings opportunities. Negotiate pricing with vendors to meet IMU and margin targets. Partner closely with merchandising to ensure alignment with IMU, AUR, and margin goals. Identify opportunities for cost engineering through fabric, trim, and construction optimization. Process, Tracking & Calendar ManagementOwn and maintain Development WIP and proto tracking tools, ensuring real-time visibility, accuracy, and accountability across all styles.Manage and enforce development calendars, ensuring all milestones are met. Drive process improvements to increase speed, efficiency, and accuracy across development. Act as the key liaison between design, merchandising, technical design, and production, ensuring seamless handoff. Handle multiple priorities simultaneously, across categories, seasons, and vendors, without compromising timelines. Qualifications8+ years of experience in apparel product development with strong focus on fabric/trim sourcing and R&D Deep knowledge of fabrications, yarns, trims, garment construction, and manufacturing processes Proven experience managing proto development tracking and high-volume sample flow Strong vendor management skills with a track record of driving accountability and results Ability to multi-task and manage multiple developments concurrently in a fast-paced environment Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through Strong negotiation and cost analysis skills Proficiency in PLM systems and Microsoft Office (Excel-heavy)Posh Peanut Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.