Senior Product Developer - Ski Apparel and Resort Wear

About CORDOVA
CORDOVA is a fast-growing leader in luxury performance ski apparel and resort wear, known for elevated design, technical excellence, and quality construction. As a small but ambitious team, we foster a culture of versatility, accountability, collaboration, and proactive execution.
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly accountable Senior Product Developer to lead CORDOVA’s seasonal line plan across women’s and men’s ski, outerwear, resort, and swim. This role will manage one Product Developer and one Raw Materials, Fabric and Trims Developer while partnering closely with Design, Merchandising, Operations, and international suppliers.
This person will own the product critical path from design planning through SMS/photo sample, ensuring the collection of samples are produced on time, within budget, and to CORDOVA’s standards for design, performance, fit, construction, and quality.
The role combines product development, project management, and team leadership. Direct professional experience developing ski or technical outerwear is required, along with an understanding of luxury product development.
This role is ideally located on the west coast (Pacific Time) for collaboration with Design. Regular travel is required for fittings, supplier/factory visits, and trade shows.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Line Plan and Product Development
Own the seasonal line plan and critical path, maintaining clear visibility of every style, milestone, approval, cost, risk, and delivery requirement.
Translate the line plan into development calendar (considering production calendars) with clear ownership, dependencies, and deadlines.
Lead regular status reviews, coordinate cross-functional priorities, and hold internal teams and external partners accountable.
Allocate categories and styles across the team based on workload and technical complexity while personally managing the most important or challenging products.
Oversee product development from design handoff through prototypes, SMS, fit samples, size sets, and approved pre-production samples.
Ensure technical packages, BOMs, specifications, grading, artwork placement, sample comments, costing, and approvals are complete and accurate.
Lead fit and sample reviews with Design, resolving issues related to construction, performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, or design intent.
Partner with factories, pattern makers, technical specialists, and the Raw Materials and Fabric Developer to deliver technically sound, production-ready products.
Identify risks early, manage changes, and provide leadership with clear status updates, recommendations, and commercial implications.
Team Leadership and Collaboration
Manage, mentor, and develop one Product Developer and one Raw Materials and Fabric Developer.
Establish clear ownership, priorities, goals, and performance expectations.
Review team output, provide technical direction, and hold the team accountable for timelines, accuracy, vendor follow-up, and problem-solving.
Develop systems, trackers, templates, and SOPs that improve accountability, visibility, and execution.
Manage relationships with a mid-sized international supplier base, establishing clear expectations for cost, quality, communication, and timing.
Work closely with Design, Merchandising, Operations, Finance, and Wholesale to align product execution with business priorities.
Identify training, resourcing, or organizational needs and make recommendations to the Managing Director.
Travel to factories, suppliers, mills, trade fairs, and industry events as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
6+ years of apparel product development and production experience.
Direct professional experience developing ski or technical outerwear is required.
At least two years of experience managing, mentoring, or formally leading product development team members.
Demonstrated experience managing an apparel line plan from design through SMS.
Advanced knowledge of garment construction, fit, grading, technical packages, performance materials, insulation, seam sealing, trims, and hardware.
Experience managing costing, production schedules, approvals, quality control, and supplier performance.
Excellent project- and people-management skills, with the ability to establish priorities and hold stakeholders accountable.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and solutions-focused, with sound judgment under pressure.
Proficiency with PLM systems, project-management tools, Excel, and Adobe Illustrator.
Experience developing both women’s and men’s products is strongly preferred.
Fluency in English is required. Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, or another relevant supplier language is a strong advantage.
COMPENSATION / STRUCTURE
This role may be structured as either a 6–12-month fixed-term, or full-time position, depending on business needs and candidate location.
Annual base salary: USD $90,000–$130,000, depending on location, relevant experience, and qualifications.
Benefits eligibility varies by employment structure and location.
Generous paid time off is provided to both fixed-term and full-time employees.

Work arrangement
Yes