Director, Custom Product & Operations

What's the Short Version? The Director, Custom Product & Operations is responsible for managing and growing the current portfolio of business along with a key focus on developing new business opportunities. They directly manage the current product development and operations team along with key stakeholder relationships across the business and marketplace. The business represents non-traditional channels of revenue often requiring creative skills to meet the customers' expectations including evaluating the return on investments opportunities. The role establishes and leads the business strategy along with key cross functional relationships including our sales and supply chain teammates to ensure key deliverables include service, margin, and performance-related metrics. What Will You Be Doing? Build and drive the multi year strategy for SanMar’s Custom business in partnership with Senior Leadership. Identify growth opportunities through product innovation, operational excellence, customer partnerships, and process modernization. Own Custom P&L targets related to margin, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and on time delivery. Oversee the full product development lifecycle for all Custom programs—from customer brief through design, development, costing, sampling, and production. Guide development of technical packages, construction standards, HTS/duty strategy, and manufacturing engineering to ensure feasibility, cost targets, and quality. Evaluate and introduce new materials, technologies, and manufacturing methods to enhance value and competitiveness. Partner with Sourcing to evaluate vendor capabilities, manage factory performance, and diversify supply chain capacity. Lead Custom Operations, ensuring seamless execution of purchase orders, WIP reporting, logistics coordination, invoicing, and customer specific system requirements. Standardize and optimize workflows across development, operations, reporting, and vendor management to increase speed, accuracy, and scalability. Maintain and expand high value strategic customer relationships; serve as a senior point of contact for program development, performance updates, and escalation needs. Partner closely with Sales, PD, Merchandising, Planning, Sourcing, and Supply Chain to align Custom efforts with company strategy. Deliver compelling presentations, strategic recommendations, and product assortments to customers and internal stakeholders. Lead, mentor, and develop a multi layer organization including Product, Operations, and Analyst teams. Oversee Custom analytics and reporting, ensuring accurate KPI dashboards, trend analyses, and operational insights. Leverage data to drive decisions on forecasting, load planning, capacity balancing, and systemic improvements. Evaluate reporting systems and define business requirements for automation, data accuracy, and enhanced user experience. Perform other duties as assigned. Comply with all policies and standards. What Are We Looking For? Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in Product Development, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline 10+ years of product development, sourcing, production or operations experience, with a significant portion in apparel manufacturing or custom product programs 7-9 years of leadership experience, including managing managers and multi functional teams Significant experience with developing and managing private label, wholesale brand, or retail-based customers Deep understanding of apparel development, garment construction, costing, international trade/HTS classifications, and global supply chains Strong expertise in program management, operational workflows, vendor management, and customer program execution Demonstrated ability to develop strategy, lead organizational change, and deliver business results Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of influencing executives, cross functional teams, and customers Strong analytical aptitude with experience using Exce…