Director of Production, Costa Mesa, California

Title: Director of Production

From boutique-brand culture to big-box retail, Liberated Brands thinks differently and has global scale servicing over 60+ countries. With over three decades of experience in brand-building, we are enhancing what a full-service license model can look like. We focus on the fundamentals of designing, producing, distributing, and marketing our brands and products, but always leave room for the x-factors to lead the way. Our expertise spans all sales channels, from direct-to-consumer to specialty wholesale and everything in between, both physical and digital. This Liberated approach creates a unique and powerful balance between brand-culture and sustainable growth. Join us and experience the benefits of being truly Liberated.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic-minded Director of Production to help lead our global supply chain and drive efficiency, agility, and process. The role will be responsible for managing all aspects of Production, within their immediate scope, including time & action, capacity planning, vendor and WIP management, seasonal purchasing, while optimizing cost, quality, and lead times. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of apparel supply chain dynamics, strong leadership skills, and a track record of implementing innovative solutions to enhance performance.

• Drive initiatives to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce lead times, and enhance flexibility and responsiveness to changing market conditions
• Lead and develop a team of production managers, coordinators, and assistants, providing guidance, coaching, and training to ensure high performance and employee engagement
• Collaborate closely with design, merchandising, and sourcing teams to ensure that product designs are optimized for manufacturing efficiency and quality
• Proactively identify risks and disruptions in the supply chain, such as supplier capacity constraints, geopolitical instability, and transportation delays, and develop mitigation plans to minimize impact on production schedules
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to various aspects of the supply chain, including purchase orders and style master data
• Validate seasonal lead times and key milestone dates with all suppliers, prior to the release of the global purchasing calendar
• Identify key opportunities to optimize fulfillment rates by improving visibility through the production lifecycle and understanding of factory capacities
• Collaborate with cross functional product teams on seasonal handover meetings
• Responsible for bulk fabric approvals and TOP’s as needed
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, standards, and best practices for ethical sourcing, sustainability, and responsible manufacturing
• Manages and supports integration for new suppliers and or 3^rd party product partners for all functions within the production process, including monthly meetings, clear outline of communication and reporting expectations, packaging and delivery guidelines, PO distro and licensed region PO process
• Understand the structural and functional requirements of direct product categories and ensure requirements are clearly communicated to the supplier and closely monitored during the final approval process
• Facilitate and monitor factory QC process and documentation, coordinate 3^rd party inspections as needed
• Standardize and outline requirements on product feedback or potential QC concerns due to bulk production issues, outline critical path to course correct, communicate to all purchasing parties and regions if needed
• Collaborate with department counterparts to help define, align, and build standard operating procedures by function within the department for all teams and regions to follow
• Implement performance metrics and KPIs to monitor supply chain performance and identify opportunities for improvement
• Communicates and presents problem solving strategies to product teams for any bulk product submits that deviate from approved standards
• Manages, consolidates and issues all global PO’s, for direct regions and licensed partners
• Responsible for size scale issuance and adjustment, when possible, based on increased visibility to sales order demand, without jeopardizing delivery or creating liabilities
• Closely monitor key points for critical decisions related to WIP and supply demand risk, determine best course of action to minimize impacted revenue and present solutions, such as air/sea split, faster transit, sales order extensions
• Manages a clear and consistent WIP processes, elevates and communicates urgent risk and or issues to dept head and key stakeholders throughout the organization
• Maintain and adjust seasonal block oversold dates within the ERP
• Identify and issue split PO’s by customer to support specific VAS, packaging or ticketing requirements
• Support data collection and reporting on vendor performance
• Provide seasonal on-time performance summary for direct suppliers
• Analyze seasonal projections against purchase order quantities to leverage additional cost savings whenever possible
• Manage PO cost adjustments as needed related to transit, VAS, MOQ requirements
• Collaborate with Logistics team on coordinating shipping documents or any related information and support as needed
• Monitor production schedules, capacity utilization, and inventory levels to optimize resource allocation and meet customer demand
• Coordinate bulk production QC sort and repairs, manage any associated chargebacks

Specific Focus – Technical Outerwear - Supplier – Mill – PO Management:

• Support and inform the seasonal planning and purchasing calendar
• In collaboration with global planning, sourcing, materials, and merchandising teams, define key dates for fabric and greige forecasts, along with color requirements by material
• Establish seasonal purchasing cadence and line load strategy to work within factory capacities
• Manage time and action for all nominated mills and materials
• In partnership with materials team, provide preliminary seasonal trim forecast
• Initiate 3 month rolling forecast and communicate to all suppliers, prior to initial purchasing dates
• Strong knowledge of technical outerwear construction, functionality, and supply chain process
• Monitor global demand to optimize inventory levels and minimize stockouts

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• At least 8-10 years of blended product development and production management experience. A merchandising or business bachelor’s degree is preferable.
• Full Circle or any related ERP knowledge
• Centric PLM, Infor Nexus: experience a plus but not required
• Intermediate to Advanced skill - Word, Excel
• Ability to lead, mentor, motivate and further develop the competencies of direct reports
• High level of technical competency in multiple categories, specific focus will be on technical outerwear, swim, accessories, headwear, 3^rd party products and limited footwear
• Strong production process experience
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to develop and lead strategic projects and initiatives.
• Ability to partner with planning, sales, and product teams in all cross functional activities
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships
• Positive, solution oriented, with the ability to apply critical thinking

Language Skills:

Individual must have ability to:

• Read and interpret documents such as standard operating procedures, selling reports, and pertinent periodicals and books
• Write clear and concise correspondence
• Speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams

Reasoning Abilities:

Individual must have ability to:

• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Growth mindset and enthusiasm for learning new tools and building process improvement
• Proactive and detail-oriented, ensuring thoroughness and accuracy in all related activities

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Job also requires the ability to travel well both domestically and internationally for extended periods of time up to 6 times a year.

Work Environment:

Creative, energetic, autonomous, and inclusive. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LIBERATED BRANDS PERKS:

• Collaborative culture with amazing family vibe
• Discounts on Liberated Merch
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits (majority employer paid)
• 401k with employer match (based on eligibility)
• Surf and Snow Team Building Days
• Summer Half Day Fridays
• Paid Time Off
• Referral Program

Liberated Brands is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role in Costa Mesa, CA is $80,000 - $120,000. This position is Hybrid and, as such, compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled. Final compensation for this role will be determined by several factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skill set, certifications, and specific work location.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, please contact Customer Service to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process: 1 (855) 330-0188 or ADAaccommodations@liberatedbrands.com. #LI-Hybrid