Product Development Associate

About the role

We’re looking for a highly organized, detail-driven Product Development Associate to join our team and play an important role in bringing product from development through production and ultimately to the customer.

This role reports to the Production Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced fashion environment, enjoys working with multiple teams, and takes pride in making sure every detail is accurate and every deadline is met. You’ll gain broad exposure to the product lifecycle while working closely with both internal and global partners. This position is based onsite in our NYC office.

What You’ll Do

• Drive Product Development & Production
  • Support the product development and production process from order placement through final execution, helping ensure product moves smoothly and accurately through each stage.
  • Communicate daily with overseas offices and factory partners to keep development and production timelines on track.
  • Cook up and track sample requests and deliveries between factories and customers, ensuring samples arrive accurately and on time.
  • Create and maintain sample hangtags for all development and production samples.
  • Maintain and update Spark with accurate product, development, and order information.
  • Prepare detailed buy sheets following order placement to support Production and internal teams.
• Own Order Execution & Accuracy
  • Place purchase orders with factories, ensuring all product, quantity, pricing, and order details are accurate.
  • Enter customer purchase orders into internal systems accurately and within established timelines.
  • Maintain the tracking sheet, ensuring all order and development information is current and complete.
  • Review purchase orders for discrepancies and communicate issues to the customer while coordinating resolution with internal and overseas teams.
  • Manage item setup following order placement, ensuring all product information is complete and accurate.
  • Maintain organized, up-to-date records and documentation throughout the development and production lifecycle.
• Collaborate Across the Business
  • Partner closely with Sales, Design, Production, Sourcing, and overseas teams to coordinate priorities and resolve issues.
  • Act as a reliable point of contact between internal teams, global partners, factories, and customers.
  • Proactively follow up on open items, identify potential issues, and help keep critical milestones on schedule.
  • Support special projects and additional initiatives as needed.

What You Bring

• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, you’re someone who naturally keeps track of the details while seeing the bigger picture.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong follow-up skills and a proactive approach to getting things done.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience working with overseas vendors, factories, or global partners is a plus.
• Experience with product development, production, merchandising, or order management systems is preferred.
• Able to collaborate effectively with multiple departments and build strong working relationships.
• Solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to identify issues, communicate clearly, and help drive them to resolution.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to get hands-on exposure to the full product lifecycle while working with teams across the globe. You’ll be at the center of the action, connecting teams, managing critical details, coordinating samples and orders, and helping ensure product gets from development to the customer successfully.

If you’re organized, proactive, fashion-focused, and energized by a role where no two days are exactly alike, this could be a great opportunity to grow your career in product development.

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $66,300-$69,000. Ranges are based on various factors such as relevant skillset, training, years of experience related to the current job description, education, and our organizational structure. In addition to the base salary, Steve Madden offers a competitive benefits package that includes health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401K, paid holidays, a generous paid time-off policy, and career opportunities within a dynamic team.