Product Development Associate

About the role

The Product Development Associate owns the day-to-day execution of sample yardage and sample development for the New York product development team. The role sits between the design and costing functions and our overseas partners, making sure the right fabric is secured, the right samples are made, and both arrive on time and to standard. The Associate carries their own development workload while managing two direct reports, the Knit Sample Yardage Development Associate and the Woven Sample Yardage Associate and is accountable for the output of all three.

Responsibilities

• Own the sample yardage pipeline end to end, from request through receipt, including tracking, chasing, and status reporting
• Maintain the sample yardage chart as the single reference for what has been requested, approved, and received
• Partner with overseas mills and suppliers to secure yardage against development deadlines, escalating where commitments slip
• Flag yardage constraints early enough to influence fabric selection rather than after the fact
• Manage the development sample calendar across designers, consolidating competing requests into a single prioritized schedule
• Issue clear, realistic due dates to the overseas sample team and hold the line on them
• Track samples through make and delivery, and confirm they arrive complete and correctly presented
• Capture and route structured feedback on sample accuracy and workmanship so recurring issues are addressed rather than repeated
• Support tailoring samples and seasonal development milestones alongside the broader team calendar
• Own the sample yardage closet, including how it is organized, maintained, and kept current
• Own the upkeep of the fabric showroom
• Support the fabric boards, which are owned by the fabric side of the team
• File all submits and approvals back into the books, keeping the physical records complete and retrievable
• Manage two direct reports: the Knit Sample Yardage Development Associate and the Woven Sample Yardage Associate
• Run regular one-to-ones, set weekly priorities, and balance workload across the pair
• Develop the team's product development judgment, not only their execution speed
• Serve as first escalation point before issues reach the VP
• Maintain accurate development records in PLM, treating it as the single source of truth
• Produce recurring development status reporting for the VP and wider team
• Coordinate daily with the overseas fabric and sample teams across time zones
• Partner with Design on line plan needs and with Costing on the handoff from development into costing
• Support seasonal development calendars and key account milestones

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Textiles, Fashion, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in apparel product development, raw materials, or sourcing, with knowledge of knit and woven fabric construction and terminology
• Experience managing development calendars, tracking multiple priorities, and meeting fixed delivery milestones
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a high volume of open items in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience working with overseas partners and suppliers
• Proficiency in Excel and PLM or a comparable product development system

Skills

• Experience with mass/value retail, fabric costing, overseas mills/sample rooms, or mentoring/directing others is preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); PLM experience a plus