OTB Group Product Development Manager — Knitwear
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- Posted
- May 17, 2026
About OTB Group
Staff International operates within the OTB (Only The Brave) group as a global partner for fashion brands, specialising in the development, production and international distribution of contemporary and premium collections. The organisation combines creative direction with industrial know-how and works across multiple brands and territories, offering cross-functional, internationally oriented teams.
OTB (Staff International) seeks a Product Development Manager, Knitwear in Milan — lead knitwear technical development, suppliers and production.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end product development cycle for knitwear categories, from concept translation and technical specifications to final pre-production approvals.
- Produce and manage detailed tech packs, construction notes, yarn and trim specifications, and size grading for each style.
- Coordinate prototype and fit sessions with design, pattern makers and quality teams to ensure intended silhouette, fit and hand feel.
- Manage relationships with internal sourcing and with external knitwear suppliers and mills, driving quality, timing and cost targets.
- Oversee costing, BOM accuracy and margin optimisation while maintaining brand quality standards.
- Develop and implement fabrication and finishing solutions including circular and flat-bed knitting techniques, intarsia and jacquard where applicable.
- Ensure compliance with product safety, labelling and sustainability requirements across supplier network.
- Mentor and direct junior product developers and technical staff; act as the primary technical point of contact for seasonal collections.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
- Extensive technical knowledge of knitwear construction, yarns and knitting processes.
- Demonstrable ability to produce accurate tech packs, specifications and grading instructions for knitwear.
- Proven supplier management experience with mills and cut-make-trim partners in knitwear production.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience in costing and margin control for apparel products.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with design, sourcing and production teams.
Skills
Experience
Typically 5+ years of progressive product development experience focused on knitwear within fashion brands or manufacturers, including direct experience working with knit mills and external suppliers and managing seasonal collections for mid‑market to luxury segments.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Engineering, Materials Science or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
Culture
The workplace blends creative ambition with industrial rigour typical of OTB group companies: fast-paced, collaborative and internationally oriented. Teams prioritise craftsmanship, technical excellence and innovation while operating across multiple brands and markets.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like OTB Group, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Knitwear Development Manager», «Head of Knitwear Product Development», «Knitwear Technical Manager», «Senior Product Developer, Knitwear», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.