Apparel Production Manager (Newport Beach)

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 510 years of experience in performance activewear or sportswear / apparel production. The role will oversee the complete lifecycle of our productfrom 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

510 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 : Bachelors degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Production, Industrial Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience)

Willingness to travel internationally (vendor visits, factory audits) as required.