Production Manager

Rebecca Taylor • Full-time • New York City Metropolitan Area, US • 5d ago

About the Company

Rebecca Taylor, a leading contemporary women’s fashion brand, is seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Production & Sourcing to lead all aspects of global production and sourcing operations. This role is critical in managing vendor relationships, ensuring product quality, driving cost efficiency, and delivering collections on time and on budget.

About the Role

The Director of Production will oversee the entire production lifecycle, ensuring alignment with brand vision and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

Global Sourcing & Vendor Management
Develop and execute global sourcing strategies that align with the brand's vision, margin goals, and delivery requirements.
Build and maintain a reliable network of overseas factories and mills, with a strong focus on Asia.
Negotiate pricing, capacities, lead times, and payment terms to ensure optimal cost and delivery performance.
Ensure all vendors comply with ethical sourcing, quality, and sustainability standards.

Production Management
Lead full production lifecycle from development through bulk, ensuring on-time delivery across multiple seasonal collections.
Maintain and enforce the seasonal production calendar.
Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure production aligns with design intent, fit, and brand standards.
Monitor WIP (Work in Progress), identify risks, and resolve issues proactively to avoid delays.

Costing & Margin Management
Build and manage seasonal cost sheets, meeting margin targets through strategic sourcing and construction efficiencies.
Partner with design and merchandising to evaluate materials and methods for cost-effectiveness.
Analyze costing data to drive continuous improvement in vendor performance and profitability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as the key liaison between production, design, merchandising, technical design, and planning teams.
Lead regular cross-functional meetings to communicate production timelines, challenges, and solutions.
Support product development teams in material sourcing and development handoffs.

Compliance & Sustainability
Ensure compliance with company policies, social responsibility standards, and audit requirements.
Support sustainability initiatives through responsible vendor practices and material sourcing.

Qualifications

10+ years of progressive experience in production and sourcing.
Strong background in overseas apparel manufacturing (Asia, India, South America, etc.) for contemporary or designer womenswear.
Proven ability to negotiate costs, drive margin improvement, and manage complex production timelines.
Deep understanding of garment construction, technical development, and the product lifecycle.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.

Preferred Skills

Proficiency with PLM systems and production tracking tools.
Experience using Airtable to manage production workflows, timelines, or vendor communication.
Knowledge of sustainable sourcing practices and global compliance standards.