Assistant Production Manager Job in San Francisco 94101, California US
The Assistant Production Manager is responsible for the execution and communication of development and production for a specific category or department that supports Design's vision and that meets or exceeds financial goals and bulk execution. He/She coordinates the activities of the pre-production and production process for one or more classifications depending on the scope and complexity. He/She assists in tracking bulk production, transmitting necessary information to vendors and working with cross-functional partners to execute product strategies. The Assistant Production Manager is responsible for abiding by all company standards as explained in the Company Handbook. All essential duties listed below must be accomplished according to established department measures and standards.
Financial Management:
- Support Imports strategy as related to a certain category/sub-category within a department to achieve financial targets.
- Responsible for maintaining costing in PMM, PLM, and POs.
- Understand department goals as relayed by Manager and Director.
- Drive results for Corporate and Brand initiatives.
Pre-production and Production Management:
· Manage and track production details with work in progress (WIP) and time and action (TA) calendars for all responsible categories.
· Knowledge of manufacturing and product engineering, trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, fabric and garment construction.
· Identify vendor partners who can execute samples and manage production for the import department.
· Maintain a sourcing strategy to support departmental goals and initiatives
· Create and distribute costing packages for developments and negotiate costs for adopted styles.
· Partner with Associate Manager to confirm placement plan with sourcing channels.
· Review development and production with design and buyers.
· Communicate sample comments to vendors and factories.
· Send trend direction and developments to vendors and factories.
· Pass off all necessary delivery and development information to the buyers in a timely manner.
· Develop strong relationships with vendors, managers, and cross-functional partners.
· Communicate all PO changes to the logistics team, PO entry, and vendors.
· Meet with vendors for face-to-face negotiations during vendor visits.
· Manage and track all samples. Arrange and prioritize fit samples for all fit sessions.
· Review business management reports to gain understanding of financial results.
· Schedule training and educational opportunities (e.g., Factory visits, System/IT training, forms and reports)
· Actively participate in discussions for department, division or brand initiatives.
People and Relationship Management:
- Establish a development plan with Supervisor.
- Influence cross-functional business partners at all levels. Review development issues and recommend solutions at a department or program level.
- Create and maintain a cooperative team environment that promotes high performance standards and attainment of goals.
- Work with immediate production team members to review and agree on production strategies and tactics; work on departmental initiatives/programs; develop internal and external relationships with guidance from manager.
- Work with design to review vendor samples and prepare for design review - ensuring quality, fit compliance, and accurate bill of materials, etc.
- Partner with vendors and factories to review production opportunities and negotiate initial quotes on cost and capacity
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Basic understanding of production cycle timelines
- Effectively communicate in written and verbal form
- Detail oriented with strong follow through
- Proficient in project coordination and timeline management.
- Highly motivated to take calculated risks and accomplish departmental goals.
- Maintains professionalism under pressure and while resolving conflicts.
- Takes initiative and accepts responsibility for quality and quantity of work produced.
- Have a sense of urgency in managing time and accomplishing tasks
- Work as a member of a team
- Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple projects
- Demonstrate proactive problem solving skills; identify a problem, determine possible causes, and generate alternative solutions
- Solicit feedback/self-development
- Ability to react to change
- Understanding of cross-functional dependencies.
- Ability to influence others with negotiation skills
- Computer skills: Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, web-based applications
- Basic arithmetic and measurement knowledge and ability to compute landed costs, margins, target costs, TY to LY comps, and capacity to interpret this information
