What are the responsibilities and job description for the Apparel Production Manager position at P5 Performance Apparel | White Label Custom Blanks for Gyms & Studios?
Production Manager – Performance Activewear / Sportswear
**Department:** Production
**Location:** Newport Beach, CA
**Reports To:** Head of Production
Job Summary
We are looking for a highly-skilled Production Manager with 5–10 years of experience in performance activewear or sportswear/apparel production. The role will oversee the complete lifecycle of our product—from development hand-off through manufacturing to delivery. You will partner closely with merchandising, design, and operations to ensure product integrity, on-time delivery, margin targets, and vendor performance in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
• Own the production calendar: develop, maintain and monitor the time-and-action schedule from design/tech-pack hand-off through PO issuance, cut, sew, finishing, packing and delivery.
• Manage domestic and overseas factory/vendor relationships: ensure milestone adherence, optimize lead times, negotiate costs/terms, and drive improvement in quality, productivity and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor and enforce quality standards: ensure that materials, trims, finishes, workmanship and final goods meet company, brand and performance specifications (especially performance fabrics and applications).
• Manage BOMs, costing sheets and production data: maintain accurate cost-of-goods, labor and material metrics; monitor margin performance versus plan.
• Track raw material / fabric / trim procurement and ensure timely availability to meet production schedules.
• Travel (domestic and international, as needed) to vendor sites for factory visits, inspections, development reviews and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: work with design, product development, sourcing, quality assurance, logistics and supply chain teams to ensure alignment of priorities, handoff, risk mitigation and delivery.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks (e.g., vendor delays, quality issues, cost overruns) and communicate status and action plans upward.
• Drive continuous improvement: implement best practices, streamline workflows, raise vendor performance metrics (lead time, quality, cost), and strengthen production infrastructure.
• Provide periodic reporting on production status, vendor performance scorecards, cost variances, and timeline slippages.
Qualifications
• 5–10 years of production management experience in apparel, with strong focus on activewear, performance apparel, or sportswear.
• Proven experience managing both domestic and offshore factories/vendors, including vendor sourcing, capacity planning, production scheduling, quality control and logistics.
• Deep understanding of garment construction, fabric/trim sourcing, costing, BOMs, production workflows and performance-apparel requirements.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience in cost management, margin optimization and vendor contracts/terms.
• Excellent project management skills, with ability to drive multiple seasonal programs simultaneously.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets; familiarity with PLM or ERP systems preferred.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate across functions and lead vendor teams.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-moving, dynamic environment.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Production, Industrial Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Willingness to travel internationally (vendor visits, factory audits) as required.