Interim Head of Product & Sourcing
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Product & Sourcing, Senior Product Manager, Product Development Manager, or Head of Product Development to join an estabilished and fast-growing international fashion and lifestyle business.
Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will lead a high-performing Product & Sourcing function during an important period of growth, ensuring products are developed, sourced and delivered efficiently across multiple apparel categories.
This is a highly visible leadership role where you will influence product strategy, supplier relationships, sourcing decisions, commercial performance and operational excellence.
If you enjoy building teams, solving complex product challenges, working directly with suppliers and driving results in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, we would love to hear from you.
The Role
- Reporting directly to senior leadership, you will provide day-to-day leadership to an established Product & Sourcing department.
- You will ensure the smooth delivery of multiple product programmes while acting as the key link between Product Development, Sourcing, Design, Merchandising, Production, Suppliers and Senior Management.
- This is a hands-on leadership role requiring excellent commercial judgement, supplier management and product expertise.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support a multi-disciplinary Product & Sourcing team.
- Manage end-to-end product development from concept through production.
- Build strong relationships with international suppliers and manufacturing partners.
- Lead costing, pricing and commercial negotiations.
- Drive sourcing strategy, supplier performance and product quality.
- Monitor critical paths, production timelines and delivery schedules.
- Resolve technical, sourcing and production challenges.
- Work closely with Design, Garment Technology, Merchandising, Production and Commercial teams.
- Improve processes, systems and ways of working.
- Provide regular commercial and operational updates to senior leadership.
- Support business growth through strong product and sourcing decisions.
About You
You are an experienced Product & Sourcing leader who combines commercial thinking with excellent technical knowledge and strong people leadership.
You will ideally have experience in:
Apparel Product Development, Product Management, Sourcing, Garment Technology
Technical Development, Supplier Management, Manufacturing, Critical Path Management, Costing & Margin Management, Factory Management, Apparel Production, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
Experience Required
- Significant experience leading Product Development and Sourcing teams.
- Experience managing multiple direct reports and cross-functional teams.
- Strong supplier and factory management experience across international sourcing markets.
- Excellent understanding of apparel product development and manufacturing.
- Commercially minded with strong negotiation skills.
- Proven experience improving product development processes and operational efficiency.
- Ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial business.
Why Join?
- Lead an established Product & Sourcing function.
- Work directly with an entrepreneurial senior leadership team.
- Influence strategic sourcing and product decisions.
- Manage a talented team of approximately 20–25 specialists.
- Join a growing international business with ambitious expansion plans.
- Opportunity to make a genuine commercial impact from day one.
Contract
- Fixed term Contract with excellent fee
- Consultancy, Fixed-Term Contract or Interim arrangements considered.
- Office based in Watford, Hertfordshire.
- Immediate or short-notice availability preferred.