Company Overview
Fanatics is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise and changing the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel and jerseys. Through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan gear in today's on-demand culture, Fanatics operates more than 300 online and offline stores, including the e-commerce business for all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, PGA), and more than 200 collegiate and professional team properties, which include several of the biggest global soccer clubs (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea). Fanatics offers the largest collection of timeless and timely merchandise whether shopping online, on your phone, in stores, in stadiums or on-site at the world's biggest sporting events. At Fanatics, we’re a diverse, passionate group of employees aiming to ignite pride and passion in the fans we outfit, celebrate and support. We recognize that diversity helps drive and foster innovation, and through our IDEA program (inclusion, diversity, equality and advocacy) at Fanatics we provide employees with tools and resources to feel connected and engaged in who they are and what they do to support the ultimate fan experience.
About the Team
We are a passionate group of product developers, designers, artists, merchants and planners where art truly meets science. Fanatics Brands is proud to be the largest purveyor of long-term rights and partnerships for all major sports leagues and hundreds of colleges. We are first to market with premium apparel, headwear and hard goods along with official fan jerseys for the NHL, NBA and NFL. When the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and World Series ends, we are the team running product to the players and delivering to fans around the globe. Our commitment to sports doesn’t stop there - we’ve made strategic alliances with Blizzard Entertainment, Disney, Marvel, Lucas Film and Pixar to bring fans an unprecedented assortment. At its core, Fanatics Brands is all about speed and agility. We are built to always respond to the ever-changing sports world.
Summary:The Product Developer is responsible for managing the factory through the entire development and costing process from 1st proto to bulk production ready status. This involves coordinating with the US teams to develop and maintain reports that track development, approvals and production ready status of all styles of the designated product line. You will analyze the development progress, consult with management to fix items that are missing deadlines, and recommend corrective action plans.
Responsibilities
Conceptual Development / Strategy / Line Plan
Establish calendar development timelines and prioritize flow of materials, art and fit approvals based on production timing
Support materials planning for protos and SMS with Materials team and suppliers
Work with suppliers to follow up on development testing and fix any potential quality issues, coordinate with Quality Assurance to ensure the quality of products
Costing / Allocation / Forecast
Support development and cost negotiations during conceptual development. Track receipt of costs in alignment with proto delivery. Audit vendor cost sheets. Negotiate all costs to achieve margin targets, and build cost options to achieve product margin.
Plan and lead seasonal costing and development trips, with final goal of 100% cost confirmation prior to line freeze
Communicate to supply base forecasts and style adds / drops
Compile material and production minimum quantities and lead times partnering with Production Analyst to build yarn, greige, color commitment and production plan
Salesman Sample to Production Ready Status
Manage development from sales samples to production ready tech pack, working cross functionally with Materials, Color, Tech Design, Production Art for designated channel/categories
Assume and manage TP/BOM development at SMS conceptual stage to execute across all teams/colors for production, inclusive of PLM data management
Review and approve production art for color, placement, technique, and execution
Coordinate between vendors, suppliers and US office to ensure submittals and approvals are executed on-time
Coordinate with color team to ensure on-time color approvals of materials
Monitor production work in progress (WIP) and manage all reports / working files with vendors for development
Lead any style re-development at substitute factory to ensure product meets all financial and product requirements
Negotiate and finalize costs if changes occur between sales samples to production
Daily Activities
Maintain tracking and related record keeping, data input and in/out parcel coordination
Monitor work in progress (WIP) and manage all reports / working files with vendors for development
Facilitate timely communication with internal and external parties between US office, suppliers and manufacturers
Perform other ad hoc duties as assigned
Requirements
BS degree in Product Development, Cost Engineer, or related field, with minimally 6 years of relative hands-on experience of Sportswear development / sourcing experience
Experience working for a US global company with international offices working with factories throughout region
Technical product knowledge, strong communication and problem solving skills
Team player with good interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to manage, motivate and develop others
Detail minded and strong communication skills
Proficient in product line management (PLM), data bases, and MS Office applications
Advanced Excel skills
Must be detail-oriented, able to multitask, and punctual in meeting deadlines
Willing and able to travel extensively, often to foreign and/or remote locations
Must be able to translate market right designs into cost effective garments while maintaining quality and integrity of product.
Ability to juggle multiple deadlines and tasks in a fast-paced environment. Strong sense of urgency and intuitive sense of priorities and accuracy
Strong command of written and spoken English is required
Tryouts are open at Fanatics! Our team is passionate, talented, unified, and charged with creating the fan experience of tomorrow. The ball is in your court now.
Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Fanatics recruiters will only reach out to applicants from an @fanatics.com or @fanatics.co.uk email address. For added security, where possible, apply through our company website atwww.fanaticsinc.com/careers
Fanatics is committed to responsible planning and purchasing (RPP) practices, working with its business partners across its global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that planning, sourcing, and purchasing decisions, along with other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of Fanatics’ fair labor practices.
