Overview
Director of Production Jobs in New York, NY at Lingua Franca
Title: Director of Production
Company: Lingua Franca
Location: New York, NY
Company Description
Lingua Franca is an NYC-based luxury clothing and accessory brand known for its hand-embroidered cashmere and ethically sourced ready-to-wear collections. The brand combines traditional craft, a playful and irreverent aesthetic, and a strong commitment to sustainable production. All embroidery is hand-stitched by skilled artisans in New York City, with a focus on quality and responsible sourcing. Meaning “common language,” Lingua Franca creates pieces designed to spark conversation through familiar sayings and distinctive embroidery. Since its founding in 2016, the brand has built a loyal following and continues to grow its creative, mission-driven team.
Role Overview
The Director of Production is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end production process from approved product handoff through final delivery. This role ensures products are manufactured on time, within budget, and to Lingua Franca's quality standards while managing vendor relationships, production planning, sourcing initiatives, and overall operational execution.
The Director of Production serves as a key cross-functional leader, partnering closely with Design, our in-house embroidery studio, Finance, Logistics, and executive leadership to support business objectives and drive product excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Product Leadership
- Lead all production activities from purchase order issuance through final delivery.
- Establish and manage seasonal production calendars and critical path timelines.
- Oversee production planning, capacity management, and workflow execution across all product categories.
- Monitor work-in-progress (WIP) and proactively identify production risks and bottlenecks.
- Ensure timely execution of production commitments and business launch schedules.
- Develop contingency plans to address delays, capacity constraints, and supply chain disruptions.
- Oversee machine embroidery capabilities at our in-house embroidery studio, ensuring optimized cycle time and robust quality control.
Vendor & Factory Management
- Lead relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners.
- Evaluate and manage factory performance related to quality, delivery, communication, and capacity.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, and production commitments.
- Establish accountability measures and performance standards for manufacturing partners.
- Identify and onboard new factories and suppliers to support business growth and diversification.
- Maintain a robust vendor network capable of supporting evolving business needs.
Strategic Sourcing
- Develop sourcing strategies that support company growth, margin goals, quality standards, and operational efficiency.
- Identify opportunities to optimize vendor allocation and manufacturing capacity.
- Evaluate sourcing risks and implement mitigation strategies.
- Support raw material, packaging, and component sourcing initiatives in partnership with internal teams.
- Drive continuous improvement in sourcing and production performance.
Costing & Margin Management
- Own production costing and manufacturing negotiations.
- Partner with Finance to support margin objectives and budget planning.
- Analyze production costs and identify savings opportunities without compromising quality.
- Review vendor quotations and approve production-related expenditures.
- Monitor cost performance and report variances to leadership.
Quality Assurance
- Establish and maintain production quality standards across all product categories.
- Oversee production approval processes and quality control procedures.
- Partner with vendors to resolve quality issues and implement corrective actions.
- Monitor factory compliance with brand quality expectations.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product consistency and craftsmanship.
Team & Organizational Leadership
- Partner closely with Design, our in-house embroidery studio, Logistics, Customer Experience, and Finance teams.
- Communicate production status, risks, and delivery updates to stakeholders.
- Support inventory planning, replenishment strategies, and business forecasting initiatives.
- Collaborate with leadership on operational planning and long-term supply chain strategy.
- Recruit, manage, mentor, and develop production team members (product development and machine embroidery manager)
- Create scalable production systems, processes, and reporting tools.
- Improve operational visibility through accurate reporting and production tracking.
- Establish best practices that improve efficiency, communication, and accountability.
- Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in production, product development, or supply chain management, ideally within fashion, luxury, or apparel
- Proven track record managing domestic and international vendor relationships, including negotiation of pricing, lead times, and production commitments
- Deep expertise in costing, critical path management, and production calendar oversight
- Strong knowledge of construction methods, materials, and embellishment techniques relevant to luxury apparel
- Experience overseeing multi-vendor production ecosystems and leading cross-functional teams
- Highly organized with strong command of development tracking tools and operational systems
- Ability to balance creative and brand priorities with operational and financial realities
- A collaborative communicator who builds trust across internal teams and external manufacturing partners
What We Offer
- $130,000 – $140,000 annual salary
- 15 Days of PTO
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental & vision
- Membership to Calm and access to other wellness benefits
- 401k
- Summer Fridays!
- Dog-friendly office!
- Monthly happy hours
- Lingua Franca discount
