Production Manager

Prodrive

  • Banbury, Oxfordshire
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
At Brand&, we produce bespoke merchandise and apparel collections that reflect the essence and personality of some of the best-known brands in the world and their iconic qualities. Our ranges feature contemporary and classic collections of clothing and accessories, clients include some of the biggest football clubs in the world and the manufacturers of some of the most prestigious supercars.As our new Production Manager, you will lead the end-to-end development and delivery of new apparel ranges, created under license for a portfolio of well-known brands. You'll have full responsibility for the end-to-end service we offer, encompassing design, production and quality control, overseeing our well-established international supply chain.This is a senior leadership role requiring a commercial and creative mindset, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and a deep understanding of the product lifecycle in a licensed environment. You will drive innovation while maintaining brand integrity, ensuring that all collections meet both client expectations and consumer demand.Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop seasonal product strategies tailored to the brand identity and positioning of each licensor.
  • Maintain close relationships with brand owners, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines, product approvals, and licensing terms.
  • Translate market insights into compelling licensed collections across teamwear and lifestyle categories.
  • Lead a multi-disciplinary team across product development, design, and sourcing.
  • Build a collaborative environment that bridges internal teams and external brand stakeholders.
  • Partner closely with sales, marketing, and operations to ensure commercial and logistical alignment.
  • Oversee the full product lifecycle from concept through design, prototyping, approvals, production, and delivery.
  • Ensure all products meet brand standards, licensor requirements, and market expectations.
  • Coordinate with licensors for timely artwork approvals and product submissions.
  • Manage supplier relationships and sourcing strategies to ensure timely, cost-effective, and high-quality production.
  • Work with production teams to align capacity planning with launch timelines and retail calendars.
  • Champion sustainable and ethical sourcing practices in line with partner brand expectations.
  • Develop and manage budgets across product development and production, ensuring profitability targets are met.
  • Drive margin optimisation through smart sourcing and efficient design-to-cost processes.
  • Monitor market pricing and ensure competitive positioning across product ranges.
  • Understand and clearly communicate high and low performers to sales and wider team to demonstrate product categorisation and design planning.
  • Deliver insights and performance reports to licensors and internal stakeholders.
  • Continuously refine product assortments based on commercial feedback and trend evolution.
Who are we looking for?Our ideal candidate will be an experienced Production Manager with over 10 years of experience in product development, preferably within licensed or branded merchandise. You will ideally hold a degree in Fashion Design, Product Management, or a related field. You will bring a strong track record of successfully managing licensed apparel lines, including navigating licensor relationships and approvals. With at least 5 years in a team leadership role, you will be confident in guiding cross-functional product teams and launching commercially successful collections.You will have deep expertise in apparel manufacturing, sourcing, and materials, combined with strong commercial acumen and a keen ability to balance creative vision with profitability. A strategic thinker, you are comfortable presenting to both licensors and senior leadership, and you bring a deep understanding of fashion licensing, merchandising cycles, and brand architecture. You are also data-driven, with strong skills in market research and consumer insights to inform product direction and decision-making.What can we offer you?
  • An attractive salary which will grow in line with your ongoing development and impact
  • 25 days holiday + birthday with an opportunity to purchase extra days
  • Training opportunities for continuing professional development
  • Onsite subsidised staff restaurant
  • Car and pension salary sacrifice schemes
  • Cyclescheme
  • Exercise classes
  • Paid time off for volunteering
  • Consultations with our Fit 4 Life expert
  • Social events throughout the year
  • Exclusive company discounts
  • Life assurance
We are an equal opportunities employerAt Prodrive we are committed to attracting and nurturing the best talent and creating an inclusive workplace. We value individual differences and diversity amongst all staff so that everyone has the widest opportunities to maximise their potential. We aim to ensure that no job applicant is placed at a disadvantage by practices or requirements which disproportionately impact protected groups and which are not justified by the demands of the job. If you feel you are right for this role, we welcome your application.Come and make a difference.

Prodrive