Director, Product Development - Kids Denim

About Us

 

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

 

Designer

What could be more exciting than putting your mark on some of the world’s most famous and well-loved fashion brands? As a designer for Centric Brands, you’ll use your skills and creativity to create designs based on style plans, sales needs and emerging trends. You will also ensure that your work can be transformed into a finished product in a timely manner and at an appropriate price point. This means working not only with our technical design and production teams, but also building collaborative relationships with outside vendors and other external stakeholders. The challenges are exciting and the possibilities endless – as you contribute your skills in a vibrant, customer- and people-centric culture that celebrates you as a valuable member of the team.

Specific Responsibilities Would Include

The Senior Manager / Director of Denim is a senior-level technical and product leader responsible for the end-to-end execution of kid’s denim—from early design partnerships through sourcing, development, and bulk production. Reporting into Sourcing/Production, this role serves as the enterprise authority on kids’ denim, ensuring products are age-appropriate, durable, safe, cost-effective, and scalable, while still delivering on brand aesthetic and innovation.

 

This role acts as the denim center of excellence for the Kids business, balancing creative intent with commercial, quality, and compliance requirements unique to children’s apparel.

 

Responsibilities:

Kids Denim Product & Technical Expertise

• Subject matter expert on kids’ denim, including fabric weights, stretch/recovery, durability, comfort, and safety considerations
• Guides design on age-appropriate constructions, washes, embellishments, and finishes
• Ensures denim meets performance needs for active children

Design & Development Partnership

• Translates creative vision into technically executable and scalable denim products
• Advises on safe, repeatable wash aesthetics and hand-feel
• Supports fit, pattern engineering, and construction decisions
• Reviews and approves prototypes, lab dips, strike-offs, and wear tests

Sourcing & Vendor Strategy

• Leads denim-specific vendor strategy for the Kids business
• Develop vendors capable of meeting kids’ quality and compliance standards
• Drives vendor performance across cost, quality, lead time, and innovation

Production & Commercialization

• Oversees execution from development handoff through bulk production
• Mitigates risks related to shade, shrinkage, growth allowance, and wash repeatability
• Leads escalation and resolution of production issues

Quality, Fit, Safety & Compliance

• Establishes kids denim quality and testing standards
• Ensures compliance with all children’s safety regulations
• Drives consistency of fit, color, and performance

Costing & Margin Optimization

• Provides leadership input into denim costing
• Identifies cost efficiencies aligned to kids price architecture
• Partners with Merchandising and Sourcing on margin targets

Sustainability & Responsible Manufacturing

• Champions responsible fibers and reduced-impact wash processes
• Partners with Sustainability and Compliance teams

Process Excellence & Knowledge Leadership

• Establishes best practices for kids denim development and production
• Builds wash libraries, fit blocks, and vendor capability matrices
• Educates cross-functional teams on denim risks and innovations

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

Qualifications & Experience

• Senior Manager: 10+ years of denim development, sourcing, or production experience
• Director: 12–15+ years of denim leadership experience
• Deep expertise in denim construction, washing, finishing, and kids fit considerations
• Experience working wit