Product Developer - Apparel

At The North Face we dare to lead the world forward through Exploration. We were born to Explore, Disrupt and to Lead. We were born to Love Wild Places and to Spark Curiosity. We believe that exploration is a mindset - both on the mountain and off the mountain - and it infuses everything we do. As a community of explorers, we stay curious about new ideas, places, and people.

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of adventure-loving people, The North Face just may be the place for you. 

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit The North Face Careers or www.thenorthface.com. 

Product Developer, Apparel

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Pro at The North Face looks a little like this.

You will work under the guidance of Product Development team Sr Leadership and execute department initiatives. You will independently own the end-to-end development of assigned styles of moderate to high complexity, with manager support as needed, ensuring products meet design intent, quality, cost, and calendar requirements while partnering cross-functionally with global teams and vendors.

You will partner with design to articulate the overall aesthetic into 3D and physical proto samples and will ensure the garment construction/BOM meets or exceeds expectations of quality and cost. You will own the specifications for the products, publish and maintain all the records, style files, Bill of Materials, and samples associated with the product and related programs. You will provide guidance and knowledge to the cross functional team on construction. You will lead the cross functional team through a review of the execution at each proto stage.  You will foster a collaborative and collegial environment across the technical development team and with cross functional partners.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Own, build, maintain, and approve accurate BOMs for all assigned styles, ensuring trims, components, colorways, placements, and construction details align with design intent, cost targets, and production handoff requirements.
• Partner with Design, Technical Design, Standards, Merchandising, Materials, Sourcing, QA, factories, and vendors to deliver best-in-class products and resolve construction, fit, workmanship, and documentation needs.
• Support the Costing team with costing validation, consumption analysis, and material-efficiency reviews with vendors.
• Own buy readiness, discrepancy resolution, and seasonal product development communication with sourcing and vendors, with Sr. PD or Manager support as needed.
• Commercialize assigned styles from SMS to bulk production, including product reviews, prototype evaluations, teardown analysis, margin reviews, risk assessments, and commercialization readiness activities.
• Identify and assist in developing department guidelines and standards to ensure operational excellence and consistency across teams.
• Train and work in 3D software to review and create virtual prototypes and/or leverage vendor-created 3D assets to shorten prototype approvals and iterations.
• Balance quality, cost, manufacturability, and speed while resolving development challenges independently.
• Monitor calendar adherence, track development changes, and proactively manage risks to support production readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement within assigned product categories.
• Travel seasonally to overseas manufacturers to support product execution, vendor alignment, and production readiness.

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 4+ years of experience in Apparel Product Development

• Degree in Product Development, Apparel Design, or related field and/or equivalent work experience.
• Familiarity with Patternmaking and grading.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including fluency in English (any other language is a plus)

• Strong product acumen with knowledge of apparel product development processes/tools/systems, including development, sourcing, and manufacturing.

• Excellent collaboration skills and an ability to manage multiple timelines and deadlines
• Working knowledge of Bill of Materials, Specs and tech packs with experience in PLM/PDM systems, 3D programs (Browzwear, Clo, Optitex),
• High degree of agility and adaptability with an ability to work under pressure and to navigate change with open-mindedness and flexibility.

• A keen interest in innovation and a passion for products.

• Growth mindset and enthusiasm for learning new tools and problem-solving.
• Passion for your work equals your passion for getting outside and living it.

 Now WE have a question for YOU. 

Are you in?

Hiring Range:

$86,400.00 USD - $108,000.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com  and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at [email protected]. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.