Director of Product Development

Director, Product DevelopmentChildren's Licensed & Private Label Apparel (Walmart)

Below covers everything you need to know about what this opportunity entails, as well as what is expected from applicants.
Position OverviewThe Director of Product Development will lead the end-to-end development process for children's licensed and private label apparel programs, with a primary focus on Walmart. This role is responsible for driving product execution from concept through production, managing offshore vendor relationships, ensuring compliance with licensor and retailer requirements, and leading a team of product development professionals. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in children's apparel, licensed products, and Walmart's business model, with a proven ability to deliver commercially successful programs while balancing quality, margin, and speed to market.

Salary is $150K - $160K4 days in office (Fridays are work from home)
Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development LeadershipLead all aspects of product development for children's apparel programs across licensed and private label businesses.Drive product execution from concept through bulk production while ensuring alignment with customer expectations, margin targets, and delivery deadlines.Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Sales, Technical Design, Production, and Sourcing teams to bring seasonal assortments to market.Walmart Business ManagementServe as a key product development leader supporting Walmart apparel programs.Manage development calendars, milestone tracking, line review preparation, and customer-specific requirements.Ensure products are developed to meet Walmart quality, compliance, testing, packaging, and cost objectives.Licensed Product DevelopmentOversee the development of licensed apparel programs across major entertainment and consumer brands.Manage licensor approvals for artwork, garments, trims, packaging, and marketing materials.Partner with licensing teams to ensure adherence to brand standards and approval timelines.Vendor & Global Sourcing ManagementDevelop and maintain strong relationships with global manufacturing partners.Lead negotiations related to costing, development timelines, MOQ requirements, and product execution.Collaborate with sourcing teams to identify opportunities for cost savings, speed-to-market improvements, and operational efficiencies.Team LeadershipManage, mentor, and develop Product Development Managers, Coordinators, and cross-functional team members.Establish clear development processes and accountability measures to drive consistent execution.Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented team culture.Financial & Costing OversightOwn product costing strategies to achieve margin objectives while maintaining quality standards.Analyze costing trends and identify opportunities for value engineering.Partner with Sales and Merchandising teams to ensure profitability targets are achieved.Compliance & Quality ManagementEnsure adherence to all Walmart compliance, testing, labeling, and safety requirements, including children's product regulations.Work closely with Quality Assurance and Production teams to proactively address potential risks.Oversee product approval processes and production readiness.QualificationsExperience10+ years of progressive experience in children's apparel product development.Significant experience developing children's private label and licensed apparel programs for Walmart.Prior experience leading product development teams and managing direct reports.Strong understanding of the mass retail marketplace and high-volume apparel businesses.Licensing ExpertiseExtensive experience working with entertainment and character licenses.Strong understanding of licensor approval processes and brand compliance requirements.Experience managing licensed apparel categories for major licensors such as Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Mattel, Hasbro, Pokémon, Universal, or similar brands.Technical & Business SkillsDeep knowledge of children's apparel construction, fabrication, graphic applications, trims, fit, and costing.Advanced Excel and PLM system proficiency.Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, sourcing strategy, and vendor management. xzbcwsv Ability to analyze margins, costing structures, and development timelines.