Vendor Production Manager

Mitchell & Ness is a globally recognised heritage sportswear brand known for its premium craftsmanship, authenticity, and deep connection to sports culture. Founded in 1904, the company has built its reputation by producing high-quality, officially licensed apparel that celebrates the history of major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. Renowned for its iconic throwback jerseys, vintage-inspired designs, and attention to detail, Mitchell & Ness blends timeless style with modern streetwear appeal. The brand continues to resonate with fans, athletes, and fashion enthusiasts alike, making it a leader in the sports lifestyle market 

Mitchell and Ness International is part of Fanatics Commerce, where we’re more than just a leader in licensed sports merchandise – we’re a team united by a relentless passion for our fans and a commitment to innovation. We live by our BOLD Leadership principles: We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team. 

ROLE OVERVIEW
The Vendor Production Manager is responsible for leading and managing production teams to ensure efficient delivery of services, high operational standards, and exceptional customer experiences. In addition to overseeing production output, this role manages the performance and development SMUs (bespoke packages) and leads the successful onboarding of new direct customers into operational workflows.
 The role requires strong operational leadership, stakeholder management, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across production teams while maintaining quality, compliance, and service level agreements.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
• Lead and manage the production teams to ensure delivery against productivity, quality, and SLA targets.
• Monitor operational performance and implement improvements to maximise efficiency and output.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, quality standards, and compliance requirements.
• Develop workforce planning strategies to maintain optimal staffing levels and capability.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and performance management to production team leads and staff.

SMU OVERSIGHT
• Oversee the performance and operational health of SMU/bespoke package deals.
• Ensure each unit meets defined productivity, financial, and service targets.
• Work closely with SMU leads to identify improvement opportunities and implement operational best practices.
• Project manage, monitor, and report on SMU KPIs including productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

DIRECT SUPPLY CUSTOMER ONBOARDING
• Lead the onboarding process for new clients, ensuring a smooth transition from sales and sales ops to production operations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure onboarding plans are well defined and executed.
• Establish operational workflows, processes, and documentation for new accounts.
• Ensure customer expectations, SLAs, and operational requirements are clearly understood and implemented.
• Act as a key point of contact during onboarding and operational stages.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including sales, client success, and senior leadership.
• Provide regular performance reporting and operational insights.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers and internal teams to ensure service delivery excellence.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across production teams and all relevant channels and workflows.
• Identify process inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions.
• Ensure consistent documentation, training, and knowledge transfer across teams.
• Conduct vendor performance reviews and implement corrective action plans where required.
• Produce regular analytical reports on vendor performance, production status, and cost metrics with insights and recommendations.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

ESSENTIAL
• Bachelor’s degree or above in supply chain, business, operations, or related field and/or 5+ years’ experience in offshore sourcing, vendor management, or supply chain operations.
• Strong understanding of production planning, critical path management, and international logistics.
• Strong operational leadership and team management skills.
• Experience managing performance metrics and operational KPIs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex customer onboarding processes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

DESIRABLE
• Experience managing SMU/package-style operational structures.
• Background in apparel operations, service delivery, or production management.
• Experience with workflow optimisation and process improvement methodologies.

The job duties list is not exclusive nor exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope/level of the role.

At Fanatics, we value transparency and honesty. If you don’t meet every single requirement, that’s okay – we still want to hear from you! We believe in the power of diverse experiences and talents. If you’re excited about the role and confident that you can contribute, don’t hesitate to apply. We’re genuinely interested in how your unique skills and perspective can help us build something amazing together.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU
Culture: Join a team where you're surrounded by top-tier talent, driven by a shared passion to relentlessly enhance the fan experience. With a focus on collaboration, support, and continuous development, you’ll be empowered to help shape a culture that celebrates both individual and team successes.
Benefits: At Fanatics, we’re dedicated to supporting you in all aspects of work and life; as such, we offer a range of competitive benefits tailored to each country in which we operate. Specific details regarding the benefits package applicable to your location will be shared and discussed during the interview process.