Apparel Product Manager

About the Role

Join a leading DJ merchandise business as an Apparel Product Manager in a remote, part-time capacity, focusing on overseeing the entire lifecycle of merchandise production, from initial art concepts to final product launches online. This role requires excellent organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously to meet strict deadlines.

Core Responsibilities

• Function as the primary contact between the artist's team, clothing designers, and manufacturers, managing all aspects such as art files, proofs, and resolving production challenges.
• Manage relationships with both domestic and international vendors including negotiating costs and timelines to ensure efficient production.
• Select suitable manufacturers for various products and provide detailed project guidance and art files for production.
• Identify and communicate any issues with art files or production to design teams and manufacturers, suggesting corrective actions.
• Analyze historical sales and prior order data to establish appropriate size distributions for production runs.
• Review and approve proofs, test prints, embroideries, and sample photos promptly for team approval.
• Proactively monitor project progress to identify and resolve potential production delays.
• Keep updated and manage key documents such as line sheets, work in progress trackers, and other monitors to oversee active projects, deadlines, size breakdowns, and production status.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement solutions to maintain prototype and final sample delivery on schedule.
• Coordinate with teams to plan upcoming merchandise launches based on projected completion timelines.
• Advise production timelines working backward from the target date to set and communicate clear deadlines.
• Assess art and production progress as deadlines approach and highlight any risks to the timeline early on.
• Provide guidance on shipping trade-offs (sea freight versus air freight) to balance costs and delivery speeds for product drops.
• Support the product launch by compiling necessary assets like product images, specifications, and size guides for online collection releases.
• Organize and track distribution of physical samples for internal reviews, promotional photography, and other purposes.
• Prepare comprehensive weekly status reports summarizing all ongoing projects and prioritize tasks ahead of team meetings.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 3 to 5 years' experience in product development, merchandising, or buying specifically within the apparel sector.
• Working knowledge of garment construction, product costing, and retail mathematics.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel.
• Exceptional organizational aptitude, high attention to detail, and strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and international teams.
• Ability to work autonomously in a dynamic, small remote team environment.

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of apparel manufacturing workflows such as screen printing, embroidery, and cut & sew.
• Experience with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, especially in building product pages.
• Knowledge of international import shipping methods, including cost and timing differences between sea and air freight.