Product Development Manager

Position based in Koforidua, Ghana (West Africa)​

 

Company description 

 

Maagrace Garment Industries Limited (MGIL) is a leading apparel manufacturing firm established in 2003 in Ghana (West Africa). With a current workforce of approximately 1,000 workers, the factory has the capacity to expand and accommodate up to 2,000 individuals. Situated in a region with a population of over a million people, MGIL stands as the largest employer, contributing significantly to the local economy.

 

At MGIL, our vision is to pioneer ethical manufacturing practices on a large scale within the African context. We aspire to establish a model factory that exemplifies innovation, efficiency, and integrity, while delivering high-quality products to our customers. We specialize in both heavy and light weight garments including fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, schoolwear, dancewear. We work with mainly large scale brands in the USA and have strict quality and compliance requirements.

Central to our mission is the empowerment of our workforce, with a particular focus on promoting opportunities for women. 

 

MGIL has formed a strategic partnership with Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), a sourcing company that specializes in delivering ethical, cost-competitive, and high-quality manufacturing solutions to international apparel brands operating in West Africa. Headquartered in Ghana, EAA boasts a dynamic team with extensive expertise garnered from various corners of the globe, spanning product development, quality assurance, account management, social impact, operations, and finance. EAA collaborates with factories across West Africa to elevate technical and ethical standards to meet international benchmarks. Their clientele primarily comprises international brands hailing from Europe and the USA, all seeking to establish and expand their manufacturing presence within the African continent.

 

Position overview

 

We have a great opportunity for someone with passion to develop products and train local talents. The role will be based in Koforidua which is 2 hours outside of Accra in Ghana, West Africa. This person will report to the Factory Director and will work closely with the MGIL and EAA Technical teams. Beyond technical delivery, this role carries a strong people development mandate, the PD Manager will be expected to build local technical capabilities, mentor junior team members, and contribute to MGIL's long-term vision of growing a skilled and empowered local workforce. 

They will have the following responsibilities: 

 

Product Costing

• Review tech packs and brand manuals to ensure all required information has been received prior to costing

• Complete risk assessments with the merchandising team for costing and sampling and document accordingly.

• Complete the SMV and detailed operations list as required for each prospective costing request, offering alternative construction techniques and solutions to risk areas.

• Raise any areas with the Factory Director that would need machine investment in order to execute in sampling and/or bulk. 

• Produce graded, digital patterns and marker plans from the brand’s tech packs and/or samples to propose consumptions for costing - offering alternative lays, fabric widths, and marker options to increase marker efficiency and reduce fabric waste.

• Ensure fabric and trim consumptions are correct in the style tool and monitor to ensure actuals used are recorded and analysed versus those in the costings

 

Product Sampling and Fit

• Represent MGIL for all technical meetings with brands to enable correct samples and bulk construction and fit; 

• Using the pattern and markers from the costing process to print graded patterns for sampling, adapting as needed to the fabric that has been procured.

• Ensure patterns provided are accurate to the tech pack and client requirements.

• Ensure all final data is uploaded into the ERP system

• Work with the merchandising and sourcing team to advise any technical information or testing required in order to properly source fabric and trims. Review fabric and trims sampling received before samples are made.

• Plan and oversee the sample production to ensure no sample takes longer than 2 working days to complete.

 

Production

• Work with the production team on product engineering to ensure the manufacturing processes are best fit for garment and for brand with the right machines in place while meeting the manufacturing cost targets.

• Ensure Style tools (tech packs) are correct and in place prior to production start-up.

• Attend pre-production meetings and provide hands-on support during bulk production to ensure that the quality requirements are met correctly first time.

• Ensure all markers are completed and checked before the PP meeting

• Ensure all markers are handed to the cutting team on time in line with the loading plan

• Adjust any markers as needed relative to fabric changes required

• Attend post production meetings to identify success and learnings on product development and production

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Sample and Pattern team management

• Coach, lead and provide hands-on support to the sampling and pattern team

• Work closely with the sewing technicians and mechanics to ensure the right machinery and operator is used to make the samples to the best quality.

• Conduct pre-sample meetings with the sampling team and make suggestions to improve fit quality.

• After completing the first quality check, ensure all samples are checked by the quality team before leaving the factories and communicate to brands any differences/substitutions versus the tech packs

• Attend via video call/phone any client fit meetings and work with the merchandising team on any revised samples needed

• Keep systems up to date with technical details required such as operations list, fabric and trim consumption, fit comments, measurement charts and sample notes.

• Track and report on sampling efficiency, first-time approval rates, and comment closure to the Factory Director 

• Improve and sustain Standard operating procedures (SOP’s), quality manuals and training materials for the sampling department with training pre and post assessment

 

Qualifications & Attributes

 

• Proficiency in English is essential.

• 7+ years of hands-on production experience within factory environments, preferably in a developing country, with a particular focus on Africa being a significant asset.

• Proven track record of collaborating with Western brands from the USA or Europe, demonstrating an understanding of their standards and requirements.

• Experience in taking product from concept to finished production, including successful experience in a broad range of product categories including stretch, low GSM, and intimate apparel

• Proven experience with digital pattern making and grading with internationally recognized systems (Ie. Gerber, Lectra or Morgan)

• Extensive experience in conducting practical training sessions and fostering the development of factory capabilities.

• Strong background in cross-functional collaboration within factory teams, guiding products from initial concept to finished production, showcasing exemplary teamwork skills.

• Ability to work independently on self-directed projects with an entrepreneurial attitude

• Previous working/living experience in a developing country, ideally in Africa

• Ability to think critically, identify problem root causes, learn and progress

• Passion for working in an enterprise with a social mission 

• Evidence of the following characteristics: pro-active, self aware; resilient and adaptable; persistent and resourceful; able to work under pressure and respect deadlines, apt at both strengthening relationships and resolving problems, poised, active listener; fun to work with; full of integrity; ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment 

 

Benefits

 

• Long term full time employment contract 

• Salary level dependent on candidate experience and profile

• Annual flight allowance

• Health and repatriation insurance in Africa and home country

• 25 days of annual leave in addition to Ghana national holidays, 30 days of sick leave 

• Opportunity to join a key department of an award-winning, dynamic, and mission driven organization that welcomes strategic input from all members

 

How to apply 

 

• Start date ASAP

• As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, kindly send a resume ​and a separate and specific cover letter for this position ​to talent@ethicalapparelafrica.com, using the reference “MGIL PD 26”​ as the subject of your email

• Only complete applications with accurate reference will be considered and only the most qualified candidates will be short-listed for interview

• We are an equal opportunity employer, recruiting talents from Africa and all over the world, both women and men are highly encouraged to apply. 

 

More information on https://www.maagrace.com/ and https://www.ethicalapparelafrica.com/