Product Development Manager - Quality and Standards for Softlines

THE ROLE:

Product Development Manager – Quality and Standards (Softlines)

We are seeking a Product Development Manager Quality and Standards to join our growing team. In this role, you will own and implement the performance quality system that governs every stage of development, from New Product Concept (NPC) through Product Launch. At Quince, every detail matters—especially when it comes to long-term product performance.

Success in this position means building and enforcing collection-level quality standards that ensure every product we launch meets Quince’s bar for durability, functionality, and consistency. You’ll define what to test, when to test, and how to make go/no-go decisions based on data—not guesswork. This role plays a critical part in advancing both our team’s goals and Quince’s broader mission.

Responsibilities

• Own Quality Performance Standards from Concept to Launch – Lead the definition and enforcement of performance quality standards across the full development process—from early product briefs (NPC) through final production approval.
• Set Collection-Level Standards – Write test specification frameworks by product type (e.g., linen shirts, knit joggers, outerwear). Establish clear targets for pilling, shrinkage, tensile strength, colorfastness, seam durability, and other key metrics.
• Build the Testing Standards Library for Product Development – Develop a structured system of performance requirements—organized by product family—with test methods, pass/fail thresholds, and historical benchmarks.
• Define Quality Gates at each Product Development Step – Establish required tests and checkpoints by round (e.g., yarn testing, PPS, TOP). Determine what must pass before proceeding to the next development phase or launch.
• Integrate Testing into Development Workflow – Collaborate with PD, Tech, and Sourcing to ensure performance testing is embedded in calendars, round reviews, and vendor requirements—not treated as a late-stage check.
• Manage Lab Testing in Product Development – Build aligned test panels, coordinate testing timelines, and ensure sample submissions and retests happen on time, tied to each stage of the development cycle.
• Systematize and Scale – Build reusable templates and SOPs for the Quince Product Development team and collaborate with the QA team to ensure QC and Vendor adoption of quality testing frameworks across future collections.

Qualifications

Required:

• 8+ years in product quality, testing, and QA—in apparel, accessories, and/or home
• Ownership experience in building or managing category-level quality specs from concept to launch
• Expertise in ASTM, AATCC, and vendor-facing testing protocols
• Proven ability to set quality standards and interpret test results to make business-critical decisions
• Strong documentation, system design, and cross-functional communication skills
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and able to scale standards through process and tools

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting up to 50 pounds
• Standing and walking throughout the entirety of your shift
• Ability to go up and down stairs, use of ladders throughout the day as needed
• Bending, twisting, or kneeling may be required throughout the day for lifting or maneuvering objects
• May be asked to work outside or travel to shoots off-site as needed

*This role is required to be in office 5 days per week.