Catbird, a demi-fine DTC jewelry brand is seeking a highly organized and proactive Contract Manufacturing Production Manager to oversee and optimize our domestic and international manufacturing operations. This role is ideal for a production professional with experience in jewelry, fashion, accessories, or related consumer goods who thrives in dynamic environments and is skilled at managing multiple vendors, timelines, and deliverables.
You will act as the key liaison between our sourcing, development, and external factory partners to ensure product quality, timely delivery, and cost efficiency.
About Catbird
In over 21 years in business, Catbird has become an icon, the ultimate destination for gifts and jewelry. Founded in Brooklyn, NY, Catbird is a mecca for an international cast of shoppers who come to visit the brick and mortar stores of their beloved website. Both our stores and website are filled with a carefully curated selection of designers, including our in-house line of jewelry. Our Catbird line is made in our Brooklyn studio and with a few trusted partners, using ethically sourced materials and conflict-free stones. Highly trained Catbird jewelers oversee every step of the process. We are dedicated to a return to local manufacturing – what our neighborhood was famous for. Catbird is a proud member of the CFDA, certified Made in New York, and No Dirty Gold.
The key to our success is remaining true to our values:
- We believe in being an anti-racist organization and actively championing diversity, inclusion, and equity
- We believe in making and selling things people will want to keep forever and will bring continuous joy
- We believe in doing everything we can ourselves
- We believe in always thinking of the long game and not focusing on a quick profit
- We believe we are the best at what we do and we work hard to make sure we know how to sustain it as we grow
- We believe in treating everyone (coworkers, customers, vendors) with deep respect, kindness, and honesty
Key Responsibilities
- Manage Domestic & International Manufacturing:
- Oversee production across multiple contract manufacturing partners, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to quality, compliance, and cost targets
- Vendor & Factory Management:
- Identify, onboard, and maintain relationships with manufacturing partners. Conduct capacity planning, negotiate timelines, and monitor vendor performance
- Production Planning & Execution:
- Build and maintain production calendars, track work-in-progress (WIP), mitigate delays, and ensure efficient workflow from pre-production through final delivery
- Cost Management:
- Support cost negotiations, analyze production costs and yield reports, and collaborate with internal teams to achieve margin targets
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Partner with sourcing, product development, merchandising, and logistics teams to align production schedules, resolve technical issues, and ensure seamless product handoffs
- Technical Problem Solving:
- Troubleshoot production challenges, recommend process improvements, and proactively manage risks across the supply chain
- Documentation & Reporting:
- Maintain accurate production records, vendor scorecards, and deliver weekly status reports to internal stakeholders
- Travel
- Travel up to 2-5 weeks per year to support our domestic and international vendors, visit trade shows, and other trips to support our manufacturing business
Our Ideal Candidate
- 5–7 years of production or manufacturing management experience, preferably in jewelry, accessories, fashion, or similar consumer goods categories
- Experience working with both domestic and international contract manufacturers
- Strong understanding of materials, production methods, and quality standards for jewelry and/or small goods
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and vendors simultaneously
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
- Proficiency in production planning tools, ERP systems, or supply chain software a plus
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
