EMERGING BLUE · 1 week ago
Director of Product Development and Global Sourcing
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$190K/yr - $200K/yr
8+ years expEMERGING BLUE is seeking a Director of Product Development and Global Sourcing to lead the end-to-end product development process. This role is responsible for driving margin improvement, product innovation, and supplier performance across global markets through strategic leadership and operational excellence.
ConsultingRecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Alonya Van Rooyen
Responsibilities
Execute the brand’s long-term product development and global sourcing strategy to align with business objectives and evolving market dynamics
Execute initiatives that strengthen capacity, innovation, vendor partnerships, expand regional capabilities, and drive sustainable growth across sourcing regions, including coordination with raw material strategy and execution
Oversee the complete product lifecycle—from concept, design, and development through bulk production—ensuring seamless alignment across Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Planning, Agents, and Factories
Utilize PLM system to manage product data and costing, track milestones, and improve communication across global teams
Create and maintain product development and sourcing calendars to ensure alignment and accountability across all departments
Partner with cross-functional peers across Design, Merchandising, Logistics to align product strategy, costing, timelines, and business priorities
Lead, mentor, and develop a fun-loving and dedicated team of product development and sourcing professionals
Lead cost-engineering initiatives and vendor negotiations to achieve margin and AUC targets
Balance quality, functionality, and commercial objectives to deliver best-in-class value across categories
Grow, manage, and evaluate a global vendor base to ensure agility, compliance, and competitiveness
Develop partnerships that drive value, reliability, innovation, and shared growth
Prepare and oversee seasonal cost and margin reports to support business planning
Monitor factory KPIs to track supply chain performance, quality, and delivery metrics, and present actionable insights to leadership
Partner closely with Technical Design and Quality teams to ensure construction, materials, and fit standards meet or exceed brand expectations
Collaborate with Vendor Compliance and Testing teams to confirm all products meet regulatory, safety, and performance standards across markets
Drive resolution of production challenges while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability
Qualification
Required
8+ years of experience in global sourcing, product development, and apparel manufacturing
Proven success leading complex, multi-country sourcing operations and vendor strategies
Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to inspire and develop teams
Strong negotiator with deep understanding of cost drivers, vendor economics, and global trade dynamics
Technical knowledge of apparel construction, materials, and production processes
Proficiency in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and large data sets
Excellent communication skills
Organized, analytical, and results-driven with a strategic, growth-oriented mindset
Preferred
Experience in children's wear is preferred
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Retirement plans
Paid time off
Parental leave
Other employee benefits
Company
EMERGING BLUE
Emerging Blue is a recruitment company.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase