Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Knitting Project Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Knitting Project Manager is the central orchestrator of the knitwear product lifecycle, serving as the critical bridge between creative design vision and tangible, commercially viable production. This role owns the end-to-end development process, from initial yarn sourcing and concept ideation to final garment delivery. A successful Knitting Project Manager combines deep technical expertise in knitwear with strategic project management skills to drive timelines, manage global vendor relationships, protect quality standards, and achieve margin targets. They are the operational backbone of the knitwear category, ensuring seamless collaboration between internal teams (Design, Merchandising, Technical) and external supply chain partners to bring beautiful, high-quality products to market on time and on budget.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Knitwear Developer or Senior Knitwear Developer
Production Coordinator (Knitwear Focus)
Technical Designer (Knitwear)

Advancement To:

Senior Project Manager, Product Development
Director of Production or Product Development
Head of Knitwear

Lateral Moves:

Sourcing Manager (Knitwear & Yarn)
Materials Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Spearhead the end-to-end project management of all knitwear collections, establishing and meticulously tracking a critical path calendar from initial concept through to final shipment.
Drive the seasonal development process by creating and managing a detailed Time & Action (T&A) calendar, ensuring all cross-functional teams and external vendors meet key milestones.
Act as the primary liaison between the design team and overseas/domestic factories, translating creative concepts into clear, actionable technical direction for sampling and production.
Lead the sourcing and development of new and innovative yarns, knit structures, and trims in alignment with design's vision, quality standards, and cost parameters.
Cultivate and manage strong, collaborative relationships with a global network of knitwear mills, factories, and yarn suppliers to ensure capacity, quality, and delivery reliability.
Initiate all sample requests—including proto, fit, sales, and pre-production samples—and rigorously track their progress to ensure on-time arrival for internal reviews and fittings.
Conduct comprehensive costing and re-costing exercises for all knitwear styles, leading direct negotiations with vendors to achieve or exceed seasonal margin targets.
Develop, refine, and maintain highly detailed technical packages (tech packs) in the PLM system, ensuring all information regarding construction, materials, and measurements is accurate.
Meticulously review all incoming sample submissions for quality, construction, and aesthetic accuracy, providing clear, concise, and timely feedback and approvals to vendors.
Partner with Technical Design to lead fit sessions, analyze garment fit and balance, and effectively communicate all fit, pattern, and construction corrections to manufacturing partners.
Uphold and enforce the brand's stringent quality, performance, and construction standards throughout the entire development and production process.
Proactively identify, troubleshoot, and resolve potential production issues, quality concerns, or calendar delays, communicating risks and solutions to all relevant stakeholders.
Curate, maintain, and organize the physical and digital libraries for yarns, knit-downs, and trims, serving as a key resource for the cross-functional team.
Manage the approval process for all production-quality submissions, including lab dips, yarn quality, bulk knit-downs, and top-of-production (TOP) samples.
Oversee the complete purchase order (PO) lifecycle, from initial issuance and confirmation with vendors to tracking production progress and ensuring timely ex-factory dates.
Analyze vendor performance, lead times, and costing data to provide strategic recommendations for the sourcing matrix and future seasonal planning.
Drive the integration of sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing practices within the knitwear supply chain in partnership with the corporate social responsibility team.
Conduct thorough risk assessments for new production techniques or potential vendor partnerships to ensure scalability and quality assurance.
Plan and potentially execute international and domestic travel to supplier facilities for on-site development, production oversight, quality audits, and relationship building.
Maintain transparent, consistent, and professional daily communication with all supply chain partners to foster a partnership-based approach to manufacturing.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to costing, lead times, and vendor performance.
Contribute to the organization's material and sourcing strategy and roadmap, with a focus on innovation and sustainability in knitwear.
Collaborate with business units like merchandising and sales to translate market needs and feedback into tangible product and production requirements.
Participate in seasonal planning meetings and agile ceremonies within the product development and production teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep technical knowledge of knitting machinery (e.g., Shima Seiki, Stoll), needle gauges, and a wide variety of knit stitches and structures (e.g., intarsia, jacquard, fully-fashioned).
Expert-level understanding of yarn properties, fiber types (natural and synthetic), spinning methods, and dyeing and finishing processes.
High proficiency in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems such as Centric, FlexPLM, or an equivalent platform.
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for creating costing models, tracking WIP (Work in Progress) reports, and analyzing production data.
Competency in Adobe Illustrator for reviewing and making basic edits to technical sketches and construction callouts.
Strong command of garment construction, fit principles, and grading standards specifically for knitwear silhouettes.
Proven experience in conducting direct costing negotiations and managing product margins in a fast-paced apparel environment.
Comprehensive understanding of the global apparel supply chain, including international logistics, customs procedures, and incoterms.
Ability to independently create, manage, and interpret detailed technical packages (tech packs) and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
Familiarity with industry-standard quality control protocols and product testing requirements (e.g., AATCC, ISO).

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical information clearly to non-technical partners.
A proactive and tenacious problem-solving mindset, capable of navigating ambiguity and finding creative solutions under pressure.
Meticulous attention to detail and outstanding organizational skills to manage complex projects with multiple overlapping deadlines.
Strong negotiation and influencing capabilities, essential for managing vendor relationships and achieving cost targets.
High degree of adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, trend-driven industry.
A collaborative spirit and the ability to build and maintain strong, positive cross-functional relationships both internally and externally.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree

Relevant Fields of Study:

Apparel/Textile Science
Fashion Merchandising or Design with a technical focus
Product Development
Business Administration with a focus on Supply Chain Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-8 years of progressive experience in knitwear development, production, or technical design within the apparel industry.

Preferred:

Direct experience managing the full product creation lifecycle for multiple seasons, from concept to delivery, with significant responsibility for overseas vendor communication, costing, and timeline management.