Sundance… A Place. An Idea. Celebrating and Enriching the Human Experience.

Sundance is looking for a talented and enthusiastic Senior Product Developer to join our Apparel team in Knits and Sweaters. Sundance is a leading omni-channel specialty retailer with headquarters located in Salt Lake City, UT. Founded in 1969 by Robert Redford, Sundance is a unique brand that supports artistic endeavors and focuses on creativity, originality, and inspiration.

The Senior Product Developer’s primary responsibility is to initiate, manage and drive the execution of the Design vision in the development of all products for the categories assigned from raw material inception to pre-production sample (PP) approval. The Product Developer is the owner and strategic coordinator and communicator of the critical timelines, driver cost architecture disciplines, and vendor selection to strategically manage and deliver the product, the quality, the cost, and the aesthetic that aligns with the seasonal line plan guidelines, lives within the vendor matrix target ratios, and brand expectations while meeting key milestones and due dates (KPI’s). The Senior Product Developer works closely with their internal cross-functional partners in Design, Technical Design, Merchandising, and Buying on a day to day basis and throughout the process to maintain a strong and aligned vision on the product direction from beginning to end.  The Product Developer collaborates with Sourcing on vendor capabilities, evaluations, communication, and opportunities to drive the execution of the vendor strategy.  The Product Developer is responsible for operating in and updating data or information in all systems related to their role and responsibilities.

The Senior Product Developer also provides additional expertise, coaching, and guidance to the rest of the Product Development staff and the Sourcing department as a whole so that the goals of high quality, excellent product execution, and superior value to our customers can be consistently achieved.  Participates in the sourcing strategy development, gathers and provides internal and external process recommendations to drive positive change that accompanies business growth. The Senior Product Developer may have management responsibilities depending on areas of focus, business needs, and organizational structure.

Essential Functions

• Owns, drives, and communicates pre-development timelines to the Designer to meet deliverables associated with the development of the adoption ready proto samples. Works in partnership with the Designer to set up meetings to review initial product Design ideas at key stages and partnership with key vendors.
  • Sourcing raw material and further development as needed to meet target raw material price architecture (good, better, best).
  • Color, print, and yarn dye development including handlooms and strike-offs to reach sample yardage due dates
  • Wash and garment treatment development in order to deliver proto sample with requested wash or treatment.
  • Manage trim development submits managing to target costs to meet good, better, best price points.
• Owns proto sample development and tracking according to established timelines.  Prepares and presents proto samples with all relevant information to the Design team at Product Development (PD) to Design Handover meetings.
• Owns negotiating and strategically developing product to meet line plan goals including target retail good, better, best, serving up options, and problem-solving to meet deliverables through development and adoption process.
• Responsible for initiating and updating all relevant product information (PI) in the product lifecycle management tool Centric Software beginning with the pre-development process through to final PP. Delivers updated Tool Report at each relevant key milestone.
  • PD to Design Handover meeting
  • Design to Merchant Handover meeting
  • Details meeting
  • Copywriter Prep
• Responsible for driving strong and clear communication on a day-to-day basis with external vendor partners on the development of product and shifts vendor needs and expectations as guided by Manufacturing and Sourcing leadership.
• Manages, orchestrates, and drives submit and approval timelines and deadlines through the vendor and the Designer post Line adopt to strategically manage priorities to meet sample deadlines across multi-season timeline overlap. Including:
  • Lab dips, handlooms, strike offs, wash, shade band, bulk fabric, and trims approvals
  • Fit process, from Master Fit to PP
  • Timely delivery of accurate photo samples for catalog development process including Walkthrough and Photoshoots. 
• Owns preparing the samples and the rack for assigned categories in preparation for Copywriter, Walkthrough meetings, and passing most accurate photo samples to sample room including completion of Product Sample Form and attaching to the garment for Walkthrough process and photoshoot process.
• Responsible for communicating multiple season overlap priorities to Designer, Technical Designer, and Vendor Partners across multiple deliveries in the process to manage timelines and meet key due dates.
• Executes PD owned responsibilities of the Design to Production Process (DTP) including commenting on product in Workfront (a web-based application).
  • Comments on the accuracy of sample for purchased color(s), as well as fabric, print,  pattern, embellishment status, and accuracy.
  • Responsible for communicating to creative re-shoots, digital corrections, revised sample deliveries, and vendor-related questions, passing sample or swatches to creative for comparison.
• Participates in seasonal returns analysis process to improve quality and returns rates through reviewing customer review and return reports from Merchants investigating, gathering information, and providing recommendations, communicating with vendors and cross-functional partners on corrective actions and implementations.
• Periodically works with Production Manager and Distribution Center Quality Control team to drive issue resolution and to evolve inspection protocol as needed.
• Drives cross-functional meetings as needed in relation to pre-development, development post-adoption, or process evolution to drive development and execution.
• Leads through influence in the Product Development organization as needed and requested through experience and a calming and solution-oriented presence.
• Participates and drives special projects as needed and requested.

• Bachelor’s degree in apparel product development, production management, or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years experience in the apparel industry, with a minimum of 5+ years of experience in the sweater category in addition to some experience in cut and sew knits preferred
• Experience in fast paced environments and ability to navigate in high pressure timelines
• Strong ability to prioritize, assess challenging timelines, workload, and effective plans to work through
• Strong background operating in and managing a development calendar with multiple layered development cycles
• Thorough knowledge of color development and approval processes to execute accurate color in product and maintain color quality
• Adept at learning and working in Product Lifecycle Management applications (preferably Centric), as well as but not limited to Adobe Illustrator, MS Excel, Outlook, and MS Word
• Ability to take initiative and ownership through spotting opportunities
• Excellent creative problem solver and solutions driver in partnership with cross functional teams
• Thorough understanding of fabric construction, content, and quality for respective product areas
• Thorough knowledge of print types, dye types, methods, and techniques
• Thorough knowledge of embroidery types, yarn options, stitch methods, and embroidery costing
• Elevated eye/product aesthetic and an ability to discern for what is elevated for the Sundance brand
• Strong analytical skills and ability to make sound recommendations and judgement calls based on knowledge and information gathered
• Must have the ability to work in a team environment, developing trusting working relationships through direct communication techniques, positive reinforcement, and constructive feedback
• Self-motivated
• Detail-oriented
• Deadline driven
• Highly adaptable to change
• Strong analytical and communication skills

If you would like to be part of a great team, are ready to take on a challenge and make a difference within our company, apply today. This position is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, remote work is not offered for this role.

We offer a competitive wage and excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), paid time off, and great merchandise discounts. 

For more information about our culture and brand at Sundance, please visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/SundanceHoldingsGroupLLC

For the Sundance Story, visit: https://www.sundancecatalog.com/category/customer+service/about+us.do

Sundance is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military service, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.

All applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).