Freelance Product Development & Production Manager (...

Location: Berlin preferred

Type: Freelance / Part-Time

Start: As soon as possible

Company: The Cry Company GmbH / HOT BOYS CRY

HOT BOYS CRY started with a simple idea: vulnerability should feel as normal as strength.

What began as a fashion brand has grown into a community and cultural movement around modern masculinity, emotional openness and real human connection.

Today, we combine fashion, culture, content and real-life experiences with a growing community across Europe.

We are now looking for an experienced Product Development & Production Manager to own the operational journey of our physical products: from founder idea to finished product in our warehouse.

You make products happen.

Our founders and creative team define what we want to create. You turn those ideas into physical products - on time, at the right quality and at the right cost.

You will independently manage the development and production process across apparel and accessories, working directly with our existing manufacturers while helping us build an even stronger supplier network.

One week you might be developing a new washed cap with a manufacturer. Next you’re reviewing samples for a new collection, negotiating MOQs, improving the fit of a T-shirt or making sure a production arrives in time for launch.

We are looking for someone who owns the process rather than coordinates it.

• Take products from initial idea to production-ready specification
• Translate creative concepts and references into clear supplier briefs
• Create and maintain tech packs, measurements and product specifications
• Source fabrics, blanks, trims, embroideries, prints, packaging and other components
• Manage sampling from first prototype through revisions and final approval
• Coordinate fittings and translate feedback into actionable supplier instructions
• Develop apparel as well as accessories and special products

• Own production from approved sample to final delivery
• Communicate directly with manufacturers and suppliers
• Request and evaluate quotations
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times and production conditions
• Place and track production orders
• Build and maintain production timelines around our launch calendar
• Follow up proactively with suppliers and identify delays before they become problems
• Coordinate quality control and resolve production issues
• Coordinate freight, shipping and delivery together with our operations partners

• Build strong relationships with our existing manufacturers
• Identify and onboard new suppliers when needed
• Continuously improve product quality, margins and lead times
• Maintain clear visibility over product costs and production commitments
• Compare suppliers and recommend where and how we should produce
• Help us build a reliable international production network as HOT BOYS CRY grows

• Build a simple, scalable product development process
• Maintain sample, supplier and production documentation
• Create clear timelines and approval processes
• Keep founders informed without requiring them to manage the process
• Bring structure to a fast-moving environment where priorities can change quickly

You have 2–5+ years of hands-on experience in fashion product development, apparel production or a similar role.

More importantly, you have personally taken products from concept through development into bulk production.

You should be comfortable with:

• Working directly with factories and suppliers
• Apparel construction, measurements and fittings
• Tech packs and production specifications
• Fabrics, trims, printing and embroidery techniques
• Sampling and sample comments
• Costing, MOQs and price negotiations
• Production timelines and quality control
• Adobe Illustrator and Excel / Google Sheets
• Managing several products and suppliers simultaneously

Experience working with manufacturers in Portugal, Turkey, Italy, China or other international production markets is a strong advantage.

Ownership. If you own a product, we don’t need to ask whether the sample has shipped or production is still on schedule.

Proactivity. You identify problems early and come with solutions.

Commercial thinking. You care about quality and design, but also understand margin, MOQ and inventory risk.

Attention to detail. You notice when a measurement, embroidery, wash or fabric isn’t right.

Speed. We are a small company and move quickly. You are comfortable working without corporate processes around you.

Pragmatism. Sometimes we’re developing a full apparel collection. Sometimes an unexpected product idea needs to be produced quickly. You’re excited by both.

Communication. You communicate clearly and confidently with founders, designers, factories and logistics partners.

Fluent English is required. German is a plus.

This is not a creative director or collection design role.

The founders will continue to lead brand, creative direction and the overall product vision.

Your responsibility is to take that vision and make sure it becomes an excellent physical product.

In simple terms:

We decide what we want to make.
You make sure it gets made exceptionally well.

Within the first months:

• Every active product has a clear owner, timeline and next step
• Suppliers receive accurate and actionable briefs
• Sampling cycles become faster and more structured
• Founders spend significantly less time chasing suppliers and production
• Production risks are identified before they affect launches
• We have clear visibility over costs, MOQs and margins
• Products consistently arrive at the expected quality and on time

Over time, you help us build the product development and production infrastructure HOT BOYS CRY needs to scale internationally.

We are initially looking for a freelance / part-time collaboration, ideally with someone based in Berlin.

We care more about finding the right person than defining an exact number of days upfront. The scope can grow as HOT BOYS CRY grows.

For the right person, this can develop into a larger long-term role.

Send us:

• Your CV or LinkedIn profile
• A short introduction
• Brands or products you’ve worked on
• Examples of products you’ve personally developed or produced
• Your availability and freelance day rate

No traditional cover letter needed.

Apply to: careers@hotboyscry.com

Subject: Product Development & Production

If you know how to turn a sketch, reference or slightly chaotic founder idea into a great product sitting in our warehouse, we’d love to hear from you.