Production Manager

About Us

Blue Illusion is an Australian-owned retailer that has been bringing French-inspired fashion, homewares and accessories to life for over 25 years. With a strong commitment to sustainability and community, we believe in creating a Joie De Vivre - a joy of living - through timeless style, meaningful connections, and responsible practices.

About the Role

We’re seeking an experienced and detail-driven Production Manager to lead the end-to-end production cycle for a well-established and recognised womenswear brand. This is a high-profile role for someone who knows how to turn design intent into delivered commercial product consistently on time, on cost and on quality.

This role is pivotal in delivering product execution that is deeply committed quality, fit, natural fabrications and responsible production. Working Full Time on site and reporting to the Head of Buying & Merchandise, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our capable Merchandise team, influencing product outcomes and supplier ecosystem performance.

This role suits a commercially anchored manager who is energised by fast pace, accountability and creative-commercial rigour.

Key Responsibilities

• Run the full production lifecycle from sample through to bulk delivery.
• Own the critical path, supplier capacity planning and workflow performance.
• Negotiate costings with supplier partners while nurturing long-term relationships that drive margin optimisation, elevate collaboration, and deliver successful product outcomes.
• Lead fit sessions with fit models to ensure silhouette, proportion and finish meeting our womenswear standards.
• Build and maintain strong factory and supplier partnerships that elevate both quality and speed.
• De-risk delays, troubleshoot bottlenecks and manage claims and quality issues through to resolution.
• Oversee testing, compliance, sustainability requirements and social audits.
• Support lab dips, trims, fabric approvals, test reports and final bulk sign-off.
• Ensure ethical, responsible sourcing and ESG alignment is embedded across production.
• Optimise fabrications, WIP and inventor flow inline product plan directed by Buying & Planning.

About You

• 5+ years’ experience in apparel production (ideally womenswear).
• Must have experience balancing commercial negotiations with supplier partnership management to achieve stronger margins, better collaboration, and successful product delivery.
• Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, patternmaking fundamentals, fabrications and trims.
• Confident in live fit sessions with fit models.
• Proven experience managing supplier performance, scorecards and onboarding new capability.
• Clear understanding of global compliance, logistics and import/export requirements (HS codes, bonded warehousing etc.).
• Sustainability mindset with experience across ethical sourcing, modern slavery, social compliance and ESG frameworks.
• Fluent in lab testing, QA standards and bulk production processes.
• Skilled in production scheduling tools, PLM and MS Office.
• You are delivery-led, solutions-oriented and thrive in cross-functional environments.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Generous employee discounts
• Monthly team celebrations and social events
• Opportunities to support community partnerships through our social responsibility program
• A collaborative team environment with purpose-driven work
• The chance to contribute to a brand that values creativity, style and sustainability

Testimonial From Our Team

“I love working at Blue Illusion!! A company that supports, encourages, and is committed on all levels to its team is inspirational. Blue Illusion drives our focus to connect with our customers and community, build friendships, and create a happy and healthy working environment. This is the vision of Blue Illusion – and why we are all so passionate about our position within the team.”