On boarded to lead product development, costing, sourcing, R&D, and production phases within apparel manufacturing for a prominent manufacturer group, renowned for its work with activewear and sportswear brands such as SUPERDRY U.K., GALTSAND, FOOTASYLUM, EDDIE BAUER, and GYMSHARK.• Lead multidisciplinary teams and manufacturing partners in executing project plans from concept to production for various global partners, including value-priced retailers like Costco, TK Maxx, and Burlington, as well as premium brands like SUPERDRY, FOOTASYLUM, EDDIE BAUER, and GYMSHARK.• Serve as the primary contact for overseas partners, managing unit price negotiations and cost assessments to achieve or exceed financial targets.• Identify opportunities for cost reduction by reviewing design styles, materials, and details for efficiency.• Work with customers and internal teams to create project plans, defining tasks, milestones, resources, and schedules to ensure smooth operations across the supply chain.• Oversee production team, enhancing efficiency by prioritizing workflow, resolving quality/delivery issues, and ensuring garment safety/testing compliance. Manage timelines and coordinate with factories to optimize size.• Supervise the implementation of customer-specific quality control (QC) measures and standards for bulk production, enhancing product accuracy and quality.• Lead testing of materials and garments pre and post-production to meet product standards and requirements.• Anticipate and plan for potential production issues, such as delivery delays, power shortages, and logistics challenges, to minimize impact.• Coordinate factory on-boarding, third-party inspections, and compliance certification maintenance with factories and compliance teams to uphold international standards.

Led the New York-based product development teams to support the vendor-assisted production platform. Served a wide range of retailers and private labels with active and knitwear assortments, including Marvel and music-licensed products.• Led teams through the development process, managing trend analysis to sampling for knit products across multiple demographics, while coordinating 4-5 project timelines and customer needs simultaneously.• Managed merchandising teams, overseeing unit and embellishment pricing with Central American suppliers to ensure competitive rates and quality. Additionally worked with US-based apparel graphic printers.• Negotiated and finalized product pricing and order allocation to factories based on quality, reliability, production capacity, and cost. Ensured alignment with sales for pricing profitability and managed the purchase order approval process.• Engaged in weekly Product Team and Sales meetings, contributing to collaborative decision-making and strategic planning.• Managed the supply chain process, including sourcing, negotiations with international vendors, and order placement, ensuring efficient coordination and execution. Forecasted supply chain capacities, assessed partner capabilities, and optimized resource allocation and timelines.• Launched a quick-turn initiative, reducing lead times to 1-2 months by managing sample development, inventory, and resolving disruptions efficiently.• Directed all facets of a multi-channel Marvel licensing agreement, driving $7 million in sales with complete oversight, from product development to sales strategy.• Maintained relationships with key retailers and managed licensed product lines, ensuring compliance with quality control standards and regulatory requirements.