Design & Product Development Manager at TFG (The Foschini Group)

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing a Design & PDV team
• Manage the development process and critical path from conception to completion for textile prints graphic and garment development to align to seasonal trend and strategy.
• Manage and build strategic relationship with all stakeholders in the supply chain both internal and external.
• Work with the Suppliers both local and import to ensure that we deliver on customers’ requirement 
• Collating and managing trend and buying calendars and processes governed by key international benchmarks as well as retail timelines
• Translating and researching international trends for all departments for the local market into exciting, actionable, and relevant presentations
• Presenting credible trend presentations to the buying teams across ladies', men’s, and kids' departments 
• Implementing the retail test strategy
• Ensure Team Calendar is set up & maintained understanding & incorporating respective lead times on fabric shipments from various sources, product development lead times, production cycles as well as finishing for local and import.
• Managing the workflow within the team to ensure that creative strategy and product are delivered on time.
• Product developing and engineering trends into affordable styles in key-value fabrics and price points  
• Fabric sourcing aligned to retail strategy 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree is essential
• Design management experience in apparel (3+ years essential) 
• Trend research and product development experience is essential 
• Previous experience in clothing manufacturing would be ideal
• Integral understanding of the clothing retail Cycle and Buying Process would be ideal
• Advanced working knowledge of Photoshop skills
• Advanced working knowledge Illustrator skills
• A good working knowledge of the current computer software packages (knowledge of Excel, Word & E-mail)

Skills: 

• High level of commitment, can work independently and collaboratively 
• High degree of decision making 
• Assertive
• Ability to self- manage 
• Team player
• Excellent planning, organisational and interpersonal skills. 
• Excellent Time management skills 
• Good communication skills 
• Good judgement and problem-solving skills 
• Develop Team to improve the technical competencies required for any new product commodities.
• Manage HR Function within the Team. (Performance Management, day to day queries etc