Director of Production - Women's Apparel

Our Story

Introduced in 2006, Madewell is a premium denim brand for men and women. Beautiful construction, the world’s finest fabrics and an original approach to design—we don’t spare any details. No one makes denim like we do, but we don’t stop there. The perfect tee, the most versatile shoe, an essential leather bag—if it came from us, it’s made well. 

Beyond our impeccably designed products, we're committed to making a difference. At Madewell we believe in being better when it comes to sustainability. We’re committed to exploring new ways to protect our planet and its people—and that means thinking about how our clothes are made from start to finish. Our story is just unfolding and there’s so much more to come. Join us at Madewell.

Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

The Role + Purpose

We're seeking an experienced Director of Production - Apparel to lead production excellence across women's wovens, leather, and soft dressing categories for the Madewell brand. This role drives strategic sourcing, vendor partnerships, and operational excellence while championing quality, innovation, and sustainability initiatives. You'll oversee global production operations, mentor high-performing teams, and ensure best-in-class cost management and product development across key apparel categories.

• Lead and mentor a global production team across Ready to Wear, Soft Dressing, and Leather categories to ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence

• Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Quality, and technical teams to develop and execute category-specific sourcing strategies aligned with brand objectives

• Manage comprehensive cost negotiations and margin optimization to ensure competitive pricing and supplier efficiency across global markets Provide innovative solutions for production challenges by implementing process improvements and system adherence across development workflows

• Maintain compliance with quality standards by partnering with vendors and manufacturers to drive innovation and sustainable practices

• Coordinate end-to-end production lifecycle management, ensuring timelines align with business objectives and go-to-market strategies

• Serve as the company's product development and production expert, guiding allocation decisions, development processes, and production timelines

Qualifications:

Required:

• 12+ years of experience in apparel product development and production with focus on Ready to Wear, Soft Dressing, and Leather categories

• Expertise in materials, construction, vendor negotiations, and global supply chain management

• Proficiency in PLM systems, Excel, and data-driven decision-making processes

• Strong leadership abilities with proven track record of developing high-performing teams

• Demonstrated success managing international vendor relationships, particularly in Asia and Europe

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Business, Supply Chain, or related field

• Experience in sustainable sourcing, ethical production practices, and luxury/contemporary market positioning

We welcome you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity and share our desire to make an impact. We’re always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow, and evolve with our teams.

Benefits + Perks

Health & Well-being – Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel, and more.

Associate Discount – We offer a great associate discount across all our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).

Community Impact – We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J. Crew Cares Program.

Winter Break – In addition to our PTO package, J. Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.

Salary Range:

At J. Crew Group (JCG), we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will consider internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. The base salary is