Director of Production
3 days ago
Los Angeles
Director of Production Our client is seeking a Director of Production to lead the execution, organization, and performance of our production function across all product categories. This role is responsible for ensuring product moves efficiently from development handoff through final delivery while maintaining the speed, quality, and precision required in a fast-paced, drop-driven business. As a key leader within the organization, you'll partner closely with Design, Product Development, Technical Design, Merchandising, Planning, Sourcing, Sales, and Operations to align priorities, solve challenges, and keep product moving. You'll oversee production strategy, vendor performance, production calendars, workflow execution, costing, delivery timelines, and team development while building the systems and structure necessary to support continued growth. This role is equal parts strategist, operator, and leader. Success comes from creating visibility, strengthening accountability, developing scalable processes, and proactively identifying risks before they impact launches, deliveries, or business performance. What You’ll Do Essential Duties & Responsibilities Production Leadership & Business Performance • Owns the overall performance, scalability, and effectiveness of the Production function, ensuring production operations support business objectives, growth plans, and seasonal launch commitments., • Establishes production strategies, operating frameworks, and departmental priorities that improve delivery performance, operational efficiency, margin attainment, and organizational readiness., • Develops and monitors production performance metrics, vendor scorecards, delivery KPIs, capacity utilization, and operational reporting to drive accountability and continuous improvement., • Provides executive leadership and founders with clear visibility into production health, risks, milestones, delivery timelines, factory performance, and resource needs to support informed decision-making. Culture & Collaboration • Contributes to a collaborative, inclusive, and solutions-oriented team culture where diverse perspectives are valued and respected., • Partners closely with cross-functional teams, to ensure alignment, transparency, and smooth execution across all product initiatives., • Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and urgency, consistently delivering high-quality work that reflects the brand standards and commitment to excellence., • Communicates clearly and proactively, especially when navigating short production timelines, evolving priorities, or challenging decisions., • Receives and applies feedback with openness and adaptability, modeling a growth mindset and supporting continuous improvement across the e-commerce function., • Builds trust through reliable follow-through and a steady, grounded presence, especially in high-volume, high-visibility moments like weekly drops or major campaigns. What You Bring Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Deep expertise managing end-to-end apparel production from development handoff through bulk production, delivery, and launch execution., • Strong understanding of production calendars, critical path management, capacity planning, vendor performance, and operational execution within a fast-paced, drop-driven business., • Advanced understanding of garment construction, fit, textiles, fabric development, dyeing, washing, printing, embellishment techniques, trims, packaging, and apparel manufacturing processes., • Ability to evaluate production feasibility, identify technical risks, troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, and drive solutions that protect quality, margin, and delivery timelines., • Strong understanding of quality standards, testing requirements, production tolerances, and commercialization best practices., • Significant experience working with domestic and overseas factories, mills, dye houses, trim suppliers, printers, wash facilities, and manufacturing partners., • Ability to assess factory capabilities, manage capacity, negotiate solutions, improve vendor performance, and drive accountability throughout the supply chain., • Understanding of licensed apparel production, approval workflows, compliance requirements, artwork execution, submission processes, and commercialization timelines., • Ability to balance licensor requirements, production timelines, product quality, and business objectives while maintaining operational efficiency., • Strong understanding of apparel costing, sourcing strategy, margin management, production economics, and inventory implications., • Ability to evaluate tradeoffs and make decisions that balance quality, speed-to-market, operational efficiency, and profitability. Education & Experience • Bachelor's degree in Production Management, Apparel Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Fashion Merchandising, Business, or a related field preferred (equivalent hands-on industry experience also valued)., • 7+ years of progressive experience in apparel production, sourcing, manufacturing, or supply chain leadership, including experience managing complex product assortments across multiple categories., • Proven experience leading production teams and managing domestic and overseas manufacturing partners within a fast-paced apparel, activewear, lifestyle, or consumer products environment., • Strong background in apparel production planning, vendor management, costing, factory allocation, capacity planning, quality assurance, and on-time delivery execution., • Demonstrated experience working directly with factories, mills, dye houses, wash facilities, trim suppliers, printers, embellishment vendors, and other manufacturing partners throughout the product lifecycle., • Experience managing production calendars, critical path timelines, workflow management, and cross-functional commercialization processes from development through delivery., • Experience supporting licensed apparel production, including approval processes, compliance requirements, artwork submissions, and commercialization timelines, is highly desirable., • Strong working knowledge of textiles, garment construction, dyeing, washing, printing, trims, packaging, quality standards, and apparel manufacturing processes., • Experience utilizing ERP, PLM, production tracking, reporting, and inventory management systems to drive operational visibility and decision-making., • Demonstrated success partnering cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Technical Design, Planning, Merchandising, Sourcing, Sales, Operations, and Logistics teams., • Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive results in a deadline-driven, rapidly evolving environment. Benefits • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, • Health Savings Account, • Life insurance, • Pet Insurance, • Employee Assistance Program (EAP), • 401(k) with company match, • Paid time off (PTO), • Employee merchandise discounts, • Opportunity to grow with a respected and evolving apparel brand Equal Opportunity Employer The brand is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. IMPORTANT: Include the WorkGrades language at the bottom of every ad, bolded. You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting _. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. Los Angeles: We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: _.