Product Developer

Groupe ALDO; Montreal; Sur place; CAD 70 000 - 110 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Groupe ALDO is seeking a Product Developer/Manager to drive fashion-aligned product development for footwear and handbags. You will coordinate with suppliers and internal teams from concept through sample, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and cost targets.

The role emphasizes trend interpretation, close collaboration with design, and effective communication on lead times and sample approvals, in a fast-paced environment with brand partners across North America.

Qualifications

• University degree preferred.
• At least 5 years in footwear or handbag product development.
• Highly attuned to fashion trends with ability to translate visually.
• Positive, self-motivated and detail-oriented.
• Capable of meeting multiple deadlines independently and in a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel and Word).
• Knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop is an asset.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research of current and upcoming fashion trends for wholesale brands.
• Assist in design meetings to provide brand-building ideas.
• Develop relationships with suppliers to create new products and negotiate initial costs.
• Calculate IMU and provide recommendations to meet design and IMU targets.
• Oversee sample development and coordinate with directors and design team.
• Communicate product quality feedback to agents and internal teams.
• Lead communications for manufacturing lead times with Operations.
• Review development and confirmation samples for aesthetics, fit, design and quality.
• Manage worksheet creation and updates.
• Analyze sales results to propose new injections and repeats.
• Prepare showroom handovers and organize SMS sections.

Connaissances

Trend research

Supplier relations

Cost negotiation

IMU calculation

Sample development

Quality feedback

Project management

Excel

Illustrator

Photoshop

Formation

University degree

Outils

Excel

Word

Illustrator

Photoshop

Description du poste

About The ALDO Group

Specializing in stylish and accessible footwear, handbags, and accessories, the ALDO Group has been around for more than 50 years. With over 1,500 stores in more than 100 countries, weoperateunder two signature brands, ALDO and Call It Spring, and we are the core footwear partner for Sperry in North America. The ALDO Group is also an industry-recognized wholesale licensed partner, specializing in the design, sourcing, and distribution of fashion footwear, handbags, and accessories. Our diverse portfolio includes household brands such as ROXY, Brooks Brothers, Ted Baker, Hunter, and G.H.BASS. In addition to our head office in Montreal, the ALDO Groupmaintainsinternational offices in Europe and Asia.For more information,visitwww.aldogroup.com.

Enjoymeaningfulrecognition,flexibleworkoptions,greaton‑siteperks,generousdiscounts, and the pride ofbeingpart of a brandthatleadswithpeople, theplanet, anditspartnersatheart.

About The Role

ALDO Product Services (APS) partners with major global retailers to deliver branded wholesale, private label, and sourcing solutions. As Product Developer, you’ll support communication between suppliers, internal teams, and retail partners while ensuring smooth product development from concept to sample. The Product Manager role is ideal for candidates that thrive in a fast‑paced environment while being driven by their passion for footwear fashion.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research of current and upcoming fashion trends and interpret for the appropriate wholesale brand customer.
• Assist in design meetings to provide brand‑building ideas.
• Develop relationships and work closely with suppliers to develop new products and negotiate initial product costs.
• Calculate the IMU (initial markup) and provide recommendations to achieve both design and targeted IMU price targets in conjunction with suppliers.
• Responsible for price closing and negotiations taking into consideration material, construction, etc.
• Oversee sample development (prototypes, sales, and confirmation) to ensure proper execution. Tracking the modifications and obtaining approvals with the director and design team.
• Ensure that the product quality feedback is communicated to agents and internal teams (buyers, design and product engineering)
• Lead communications for manufacturing lead times with our Operations team (XF and delivery dates).
• Review development and confirmation samples for aesthetic, fit, design and quality, obtaining approval.
• Supervise worksheet creation and updates.
• Constantly analyzing sales results to propose new injections and repeats.
• Manage Digital Filtering prep. (unbox proto samples, merchandise and set up the protos into sections to reflect digital deck layout)
• Manage SMS specifications and requests.
• Validate target costs to reflect SMS requests.
• Track all SMS with the support of the Product Coordinator.
• Prep showroom for Handover Finalization (Unbox samples, merchandise and set up the SMS into sections.
• Manage HF regroup. Manage all sample comments and new additions.
• Manage revised SMS request.
• Validate all revised SMS.

Key Requirements

• University degree preferred.
• At least 5 years in a footwear or handbag product development role.
• Highly attuned to fashion trends with the ability to translate them visually.
• Positive, self‑motivated and strong attention to detail.
• Capable of meeting multiple deadlines in a timely manner.
• Able to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel and Word.
• Knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop, an asset.