Senior Product Developer

Are you an experienced Product Developer with a strong understanding of apparel construction, materials and technical product development?

Can you manage products from initial concept through to production, balancing quality, performance, cost and margin?

Do you bring the energy, accountability and collaborative approach needed to keep teams aligned and development moving?

MacGregor Black is currently partnering with a leading British outdoor apparel brand on the search for a Senior Product Developer, based in Milton Keynes.

Reporting to the Head of Product, you will take ownership of the end-to-end development and commercialisation of products across assigned categories, while managing the Product Development and Materials team.

Working closely with Design, Production, suppliers and factories, you will be responsible for ensuring products move through development efficiently and are delivered against quality, performance, fit, cost, margin and responsible sourcing objectives.

This role would suit a well-rounded Product Developer who combines strong technical and commercial knowledge with the ability to manage people, identify risk and work collaboratively across functions. You will need to be confident making decisions, challenging where required and creating an environment where the team feels comfortable taking ownership and contributing ideas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead product and material development from initial concept through to production approval.
• Manage and support the Product Development and Materials team, setting clear priorities and encouraging ownership across individual areas.
• Own the development critical path and ensure seasonal milestones are achieved.
• Coordinate prototypes, fit reviews, testing, approvals, compliance and production readiness.
• Identify and manage risks across product, quality, cost, compliance and delivery.
• Work closely with Design, Production and suppliers to balance design intent with commercial and technical requirements.
• Oversee product specifications, BOMs, testing requirements and development documentation.
• Lead sample reviews and fit sessions, providing direction across garment construction, fit, grading, materials and workmanship.
• Review supplier costings and identify value engineering opportunities while maintaining product quality and integrity.
• Support the delivery of agreed cost and margin objectives.
• Optimise materials, construction and manufacturing methods where appropriate.
• Ensure products meet required quality, safety, testing, compliance and responsible sourcing standards.
• Lead technical risk assessments and review testing results, quality reports and supplier submissions.
• Investigate product and quality issues and drive appropriate corrective actions.
• Build strong working relationships with global suppliers, factories and material partners.
• Lead supplier WIP reviews covering development progress, costing, testing, compliance and production readiness.
• Act as an escalation point for product, technical, quality, supplier and compliance issues.
• Promote a collaborative, accountable and commercially focused way of working across Product, Design and Production.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven Product Development experience within apparel, outdoor or technical clothing.
• Strong menswear experience would be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, grading, fabrics, raw materials, trims and testing.
• Experience managing product development from concept through to production approval.
• Strong critical path management and the ability to keep multiple workstreams moving in parallel.
• Good commercial understanding across costing, margin and value engineering.
• Experience working directly with international suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, product compliance, testing and responsible sourcing.
• Previous experience managing, coaching or mentoring Product Development or Technical team members.
• Confident identifying risk and raising concerns before they become wider issues.
• Able to think strategically while remaining comfortable working through detail.
• Collaborative and approachable, but comfortable holding others accountable when required.
• Positive, energetic and adaptable, with the ability to bring others with you without being overly forceful.
• Strong communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• Organised, proactive and commercially focused.