Are you Ulvang’s new Product Development Manager?

Are you passionate about all things wool and are curious to explore how this amazing fibre can be used in outdoor performance clothing, accessories and socks? Do you have a strong creative vision to drive the brand’s design identity combined with an entrepreneurial commercial mindset to create a leading product portfolio? If so, come and join us in Brav as our Product Development Manager for Ulvang.  

You are responsible for product design, product development and product portfolio management for Ulvang. By combining art and science you ensure that our Ulvang products have a clear DNA and expression in the market, including iconic styles, creating the market “buzz”. You will lead a team of passionate product designers and developers.

You monitor market trends and collaborate with partners across the organization and externally to enhance processes and drive innovation. You will ensure that the product portfolio is innovative, sustainable, commercial and supports BRAV’s strategic ambitions.

You make sure that the development of new collections is done in compliance with BRAV’s prevailing Timeline Process, meeting all decisions gates and deadlines.

Main Areas of Responsibility:

Lead the product creation process for Ulvang

• Set the direction, define the goals and ambitions for the product range in close collaboration with Product Development Director.
• Ensure that the product portfolio is innovative, sustainable, commercial and supports BRAV’s strategic ambitions.
• Define and drive Ulvang’s product design identity.
• Ensure the product is developed according to relevant fit, responsibility, performance and quality standards and hand over production ready products and documentation.
• Launch the Ulvang product range to BRAV’s commercial organization, preparing all necessary product launch documents and providing powerful tools and training to share the product vision and performance benefits.
• Ensure that the product development process is being executed in accordance with the current Timeline Process and ensure that all product data is captured in the relevant systems.
• Organise and lead the collection planning meetings for Ulvang.
• Oversee and monitor performance against KPI targets. 

Drive innovation

• Seek arenas of knowledge and explore new opportunities.
• Collaborate with research establishments, industry organisations and the complete manufacturing value chain to push forward what is possible in terms of performance and sustainability.
• Monitor market trends and competitor brands.

Leadership and People Management

• Lead the product development team reporting to you and ensure that the team has the necessary competencies and capabilities to take an industry lead position.
• Collaborate with other brands in BRAV’s portfolio.
• Act according to BRAV’s leadership principles and ensure that BRAV’s values are being lived.

Qualifications requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, and/or Fashion/Apparel/Textiles. 
• Extensive experience (10 years+) from design, development and/or product management within the clothing industry. Preferably within the sports or outdoor industry.
• Team leadership experience (3 years+).
• Strong knowledge of apparel design concepts, materials and technologies.
• Very good English language skills, both verbally and written.
• Strong knowledge of digital productivity tools (MS Office/GSuite).
• Strong knowledge of business applications tools (ERP, PLM).
• Experience in supplier development and collaboration with manufacturers of apparel and/or outdoor equipment is required.

Personal skills:

• You have a professional attitude and you are a teamplayer.
• You have a strong commercial, analytical and entrepreneurial instinct. 
• You are creative and you have “an eye” for great design.
• You are structured and methodical, knowing that the “devil is in the details”.
• Have the ability to multi-task, adapt to changing priorities and have the willingness to get your hands dirty and get things done.
• You have high stress tolerance and ability to work with several tasks under pressure.
• You are brave and dare to stand out from the crowd and do something different.
• You are capable to deal with rapid change in technology and market needs.
• You have a genuine interest for nature and an active lifestyle.