About Royal Robbins®

Founded in 1968 by world-renowned climbers Royal and Liz Robbins, Royal Robbins is a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of outdoor lifestyle apparel. The brand has gained worldwide recognition for its high-quality clothing and commitment to environmental and social responsibility. It has built a reputation of integrating technical features for adventurers seeking performance-oriented garments, but with the style and comfort to cross over into everyday life. Royal Robbins collection of men’s and women’s products can be found in outdoor and specialty retail partners throughout the U.S. and abroad. To learn more, please visit www.royalrobbins.com.

Benefits Overview:

When you join us, you are offered several great benefits. Here are some things to expect at Royal Robbins: 

• A challenging work environment with passionate, enthusiastic co-workers
• A company that treasures sustainability and acts in creating future stewards of nature
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• HSA with company contributions
• Dependent care FSA
• Company paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness benefits
• PTO - 3 to 6 weeks based on tenure
• Company paid family leave
• Generous schedule of paid company holidays
• 401k with company match

Position Summary:

The Royal Robbins Product Development Manager plays a pivotal role in bringing to life enduring, classic outdoor clothing products for people who embody a love for the natural world. The Product Development Manager acts as a key liaison between product teams, suppliers, and global sourcing and production teams. They oversee the development and maintain the highest quality of the Royal Robbins collections, including leading product development and managing manufacturing costs. This person ensures timely completion of product milestones each season to bring high-quality, high-performing clothing to our customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Product

• Attend concept and fabric meetings; align on fabric and/or yarn identification, selections, and fittings, in partnership with the Design, Tech-Design, and Material teams
• Partner with Design Team to understand design intent and to ensure that fabric/silhouette pairings are appropriate; identify opportunity for innovation of construction standards to ensure consistency in experience and delivery of value to the customer; oversee all materials for seasonal collection throughout the development process for product & costing accuracy and follow-up
• Monitor and maintain regular communication with all vendors to ensure production deadlines are met
• Resolve potential manufacturing/cost challenges and executions issues prior to style development and product adoption, to ensure quality execution in bulk
• Run cost scenarios with vendors and align with Senior Product Director
• Own and track color lab dip processes from initiation to request, follow-up, and approvals with suppliers
• Manage sweater development directly with sweater factories, including yarn development, lab dips, and execution of sweater samples
• Use PLM daily and maintain workflow in PLM, including (but not limited to) updating all new trims seasonally and inputting color comments and costing
• Engage with Brand Capacity Manager on achieving AUC targets and material developments
• Engage with Sourcing Manager on vendor selection
• Manage one direct report

Strategy

• Work with Material Team to drive raw materials development that aligns with Royal Robbins brand aesthetics and cost-mitigation strategies
• Manage comprehensive product development milestones to ensure on-time deadlines are met and the Royal Robbins quality is maintained
• Achieve seasonal finance goals by partnering with Manager and sourcing channels on cost engineering and vendor negotiations
• Complete rollup calculations for profit margins; communicate seasonal costing analysis against financial targets and historical product lines
• Effectively resolve issues with cross-functional team in the development process with diplomatic, appropriate communication

Calendar

• Manage and track all aspects of product development from pre-season development timeline to PP
• Drive in-season color development, quality, and sample approvals in line with the company calendar
• Partner with Design to deliver inspiration, samples, and techniques to sourcing partners and to drive product innovation with vendors
• Manage tracking, comments, and calendar related to the development cycle and ensure team are tracking against the key milestone deliveries

Who You Are:

Requirements and qualifications:

• You have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• You have five or more years of product development or similar experience (including manufacturing, fabric construction, and garment production)
• You emphasize driving and influencing business processes to create the best possible outcomes
• You have great aesthetic, design, and color sensibility

Skills:

• Ability to think “three-dimensionally and visual completed products
• Understanding of apparel product design and construction
• Retail math (AUC, AUR, IMU)
• Computer skills (Microsoft Office, web-based applications, PLM)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize, manage competing demands and time constraints
• Highly motivated and self-driven with the ability to collaborate and work as part of a team and independently as needed
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to identify and suggest areas for improving all areas of product development

Connect with us today to climb to new heights in a Royal Robbins career!

Royal Robbins celebrates diversity and is committed to continually striving to create and grow a diverse and inclusive workplace for all employees. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We aim to facilitate a safe, fair and kind work environment where all feel welcome and can thrive.