Manager Product Development & Production

The Company

Marine Layer designs and manufactures its own line of casual apparel. We have 48 of our own stores (and counting) across the country and a thriving e-commerce and catalog business. Our success has been built on a small, hard-working team that has a lot of fun and passionately believes in what we are building. We’ve managed to transition from a start-up into a national brand by staying true to our roots and thoughtfully expanding the team with some incredibly talented (and fun) people who want to help us build something special. That’s where you come in...

Job Description

We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced Manager of Product Development & Production to lead the execution of our seasonal collections from concept through delivery. In this role, you'll work cross-functionally with Design, Technical Design, Materials, and Operations teams to bring high-quality products to life—on time and aligned with our brand’s creative and commercial vision.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is a self-starter with strong problem-solving skills, and has deep knowledge of apparel development and production processes. Direct experience in the apparel industry is required.

About the role

• Build and manage strategic vendor relationships, aligning overall vendor strategy with evolving business needs and long-term goals.
• Utilize Centric PLM to streamline workflows, track development progress, and drive operational efficiency across the product lifecycle.
• Lead the end-to-end product development process in close collaboration with design, ensuring product execution aligns with creative vision, timelines, and margin targets.
• Oversee time-and-action calendars for all vendors and product categories, clearly communicating key milestones and deliverables with cross-functional partners.
• Champion the fabric platforming process by partnering with design, tech, and merchandising to optimize materials for performance, cost, and sustainability.
• Analyze vendor costings, conduct negotiations, and manage cost strategy to achieve profitability targets.
• Ensure timely and accurate purchase order placement, while managing vendor communications to support on-time delivery and design-intent execution.
• Drive quality assurance by managing vendor compliance, conducting inspections and audits, and ensuring adherence to product specifications and standards.
• Proactively identify and resolve development and production challenges, prioritizing based on seasonal calendars and collaborating across internal and external teams.
• Report on development status and key milestones, including Adoption and Final Line Review, and provide updates as requested by leadership.
• Oversee development and production for Men’s and Women’s Wovens, Knits, Sweaters, and Accessories from concept through delivery.
• Lead and mentor a team of three direct reports, managing workload allocation, team performance, and professional growth.

Qualifications

A Fantastic Communicator.

The successful candidate for this position is able to communicate clearly externally - with international & domestic factories, and internally - with cross-functional teams. You are organized, self-motivated and accountable with excellent verbal/written communication skills.

Obsessed with the Details.

There are a ton of little things that go into making a great product. A successful candidate is obsessed with the details in our clothing and works closely with our factories to ensure those details are executed.

A Clock Hawk.

You should love calendars, reminders, deadlines, and be able to seamlessly, adamantly, and successfully keep things running on time.

An Authentic Brand Advocate.

You should know the brand, like the brand, and have a strong desire to make it the best it can possibly be.

Driven to Build Something Great.

Hmmm, how to say this politely, we ain’t Levis or the Gap. We’re on the precipice of something really special, but we’re not there yet. The road ahead is going to be challenging and we’re looking for someone who embraces that and is eager to play a key part in getting us to the next level.

Fine Print: (we ask that you have the following)

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 5 years experience working in product development, production, or otherwise related field
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and communication skills
• Proven ability to work well with a dynamic cross-functional team
• Desire to work in a very fast-paced environment and an ability to adapt to change
• This position is hybrid-based in San Francisco, requiring in-office presence from Tuesday to Thursday.

Perks

• Competitive pay and potential for equity compensation
• Flexible time off
• Hybrid Schedule
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance available
• 401k with Matching
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Parental Leave
• Wellness Allowance
• Cell Phone Reimbursement

Salary: $130,000.000 - $160,000.00

TO APPLY

Check out our website and shoot [email protected] your resume and a thoughtful email about how you relate to our seven-day-weekend lifestyle. Cover letters are for the birds…

Marine Layer is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that welcomes applicants and employees of all genders, races, backgrounds, orientations, and nationalities.

Mission Statement

Responsibly build an iconic brand that inspires a life at ease.

We believe that every day should be easy, so we make stuff you love to wear as much as your old favorite shirt. By building a successful and responsible business, we aim to take care of our employees, our community, and our planet.