Production Manager (Full-Time, On-Site)

Julie Kegels is looking for an organised, hands-on and proactive production manager to join our team in Antwerp.

Founded in 2024 following Julie Kegels’ graduation from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, the brand is entering its next phase of growth. As our collections, production volumes and international distribution continue to expand, we are looking for someone to coordinate the day-to-day follow-up of our production and help ensure a smooth transition from development into finished product.

Working closely with our Development & Product Lead, you will coordinate production across multiple product categories and international manufacturers, from pre-production and material ordering through bulk production, quality control and final delivery.

This is a hands-on and operational role for someone with a solid understanding of fashion production who is highly organised, communicative and proactive. You enjoy keeping an overview while simultaneously following up on the many details required to keep production moving.

THE ROLE

As Production manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and follow-up of our production orders, ensuring that styles move forward according to the required timing, quality, quantities and specifications.

You will act as an important link between our internal team, suppliers, manufacturers and ateliers. You will maintain a clear overview of the production status at all times, follow up proactively and flag potential issues before they impact deliveries.

Your responsibilities will include:

PRODUCTION COORDINATION

• Coordinating production orders across different product categories, manufacturers and ateliers
• Building, updating and monitoring detailed production timelines by style, supplier and season
• Following production from order confirmation through final delivery
• Ensuring manufacturers have all necessary information, materials and approvals to start and continue production
• Following up proactively on outstanding actions, deadlines and approvals
• Monitoring production progress against agreed delivery dates
• Flagging potential delays, bottlenecks, quality issues or production risks at an early stage
• Working together with the Development & Product Lead to find practical solutions when issues arise
• Keeping relevant internal teams informed about production status, changes and expected delivery dates

PRE-PRODUCTION & PPS

• Requesting, tracking and following up pre-production samples (PPS)
• Coordinating PPS approvals and ensuring comments are clearly communicated to manufacturers
• Collecting and translating fitting comments and production feedback into clear actions
• Checking that technical files, specifications, measurements, BOMs and production information are complete beforeproduction starts
• Following up outstanding approvals with the relevant internal team members
• Ensuring final production specifications are correctly communicated and documented

FABRICS, TRIMS & COMPONENTS

• Supporting the purchasing and ordering of production fabrics, trims and components
• Preparing and following up purchase orders with suppliers
• Tracking quantities, lead times and expected delivery dates
• Coordinating deliveries of fabrics and trims to the correct manufacturers and ateliers
• Following up shortages, delays or discrepancies with suppliers
• Checking that manufacturers receive the correct materials in time for production
• Maintaining a clear overview of material requirements and outstanding deliveries per style and supplier

MANUFACTURER & SUPPLIER COMMUNICATION

• Managing day-to-day communication with our international manufacturers, ateliers and suppliers
• Following up proactively rather than waiting for production updates
• Communicating priorities, deadlines, approvals and changes clearly
• Ensuring agreements and production decisions are properly documented
• Maintaining professional and constructive relationships with manufacturing partners
• Escalating important technical, commercial or timing decisions to the Development & Product Lead when needed

QUALITY CONTROL

• Coordinating quality control throughout the production process
• Following up quality requirements and standards with manufacturers
• Checking that approved samples and specifications are correctly translated into bulk production
• Coordinating inspections and quality checks where necessary
• Following up reported defects, inconsistencies or production issues
• Supporting the team in organising reworks, replacements or corrective actions when required
• Helping document recurring quality issues to improve future production

PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATION & SYSTEMS

• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date production information across our internal systems, including PLM, ERP and Excel
• Keeping production trackers, order information and delivery schedules continuously updated
• Checking production-related documentation, including purchase orders, production orders, specifications, approvals and invoices
• Cross-checking quantities, prices and agreed terms against production documentation
• Maintaining an organised archive of relevant production information and communication
• Preparing clear weekly production updates by style, supplier and season
• Ensuring the wider team has an accurate overview of what is in production, what is delayed and what is ready for delivery

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who combines strong organisation with practical production knowledge.

You are comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where several collections, suppliers, deadlines and priorities can overlap. You naturally follow up, ask questions when information is missing and take initiative to keep processes moving.

You are detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger production timeline and understand when an issue can be solved independently and when it needs to be escalated.

Ideally, you have:

• 2–4 years of relevant experience in fashion production, product development, production coordination or a similar role
• A good understanding of the fashion production cycle, from development and PPS through bulk production and delivery
• Experience working with garment manufacturers, ateliers and/or material suppliers
• Understanding of fabrics, trims, garment construction and production processes
• Experience working with production timelines and multiple suppliers simultaneously
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to prioritise and keep an overview across many parallel processes
• A proactive and solution-oriented mindset
• Strong communication skills and confidence following up external partners
• Good administrative skills and accuracy when working with orders, quantities, prices and documentation
• Confidence working with Excel; experience with PLM and/or ERP systems is a strong plus
• Professional proficiency in English; Dutch, Italian and/or French are a plus
• The ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small team
• Experience within an independent fashion brand or a similarly fast-paced environment is considered a strong plus.

HOW YOU WORK

You are someone who:

• Likes creating structure and keeping things organised
• Naturally follows up until something is completed
• Notices missing information and inconsistencies quickly
• Communicates clearly and directly
• Stays calm when timelines become tight
• Is comfortable switching between detailed administrative work and practical problem-solving
• Takes responsibility for your own follow-ups and deadlines

THE TEAM

You will work from our Antwerp studio as part of a small and growing team.

You will work particularly closely with our Development & Product Lead, who oversees the broader development and product strategy and who will support you with technical decision-making, supplier structure and key production decisions.

You will also work closely with our Logistics & Aftersales Manager to ensure a smooth flow from production through to deliveries and aftersales production-related questions.

PRACTICAL SUMMARY

Position: Production Manager

Location: Antwerp, Belgium

Schedule: Full time or 4/5th

Start date: To be discussed

You can apply directly through FashionUnited via the below button.

When applying by email, please send your CV and a short introduction explaining your relevant production experience and why you would like to join Julie Kegels to info@juliekegels.com with subject ‘Application: Production Manager’.