Apparel Product Development Associate

Charles River Apparel Inc; Sharon (MA); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles River Apparel Inc is looking for an Apparel Product Development Associate in Sharon, Massachusetts. This hybrid role supports product development and ensures compliance across the product lifecycle while maintaining operational accuracy.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of experience in product development or quality operations. The position involves strong analytical skills, effective communication with vendors, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, compliance, or related operational support roles.
• Strong skills in analyzing and organizing data with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support Product Development teams with setup and material coordination.
• Evaluate and document quality inspection processes.
• Collect and maintain compliance documentation and testing reports.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

PLM systems

Adobe Illustrator

Reporting tools

Job description

Description

1. Role Overview

The Apparel Product Development Associate supports and owns the day-to-day execution of product development, quality, and compliance operations across the product lifecycle. This role plays a critical coordination function between Product Development, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate product data, organized documentation, compliance readiness, exercising independent judgement and and timely issue resolution.

The Associate is responsible for maintaining operational accuracy and supporting scalable processes that improve product execution, inspection tracking, vendor communication, and compliance management. This role helps ensure and evaluate independently products meet company quality standards, regulatory requirements, and timeline expectations while supporting continuous process improvement across the organization.

This is a hybrid position requiring regular in-office attendance 3–4 days per week. Additional in-office attendance may be required as needed to support business priorities, including meetings, project deadlines, and product reviews.

2. Core Responsibilities

Product Development Coordination

• Support Product Development teams and manage with product setup, material coordination, file management, and PLM updates.
• Maintain accurate product information, specifications, and documentation throughout the development lifecycle.
• Coordinate sample tracking, direct approvals, and internal communication to support on-time development milestones.
• Assist with organization and maintenance of seasonal product files and development records.
• Support cross-functional collaboration and serve as point of contact between Product Development, Production, Quality, and Sourcing teams’ alignment.

Quality & Inspection Management

• Evaluate and execute the quality inspection processes by tracking inspections, documenting results, and maintaining organized records.
• Monitor and assess quality issues, elevate concerns to leadership in a timely manner with proposed resolutions.
• Ensure inspection reports and corrective action documentation are properly maintained.
• Recommend and assist with follow-up communication regarding quality-related action items.
• Help drive consistency and accountability within quality tracking processes.

Compliance Administration

• Collect, organize, and maintain testing reports, certifications, and compliance documentation.
• Independently manage and Support annual compliance updates and documentation renewals.
• Maintain records required for internal audits and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance documentation is accurate, complete, and accessible.
• Track expiration dates and follow up on missing or outstanding documentation.

Data & Process Management

• Maintain and analyze operational accuracy of records and reporting across product development, quality, and compliance functions.
• Support operational reporting and KPI tracking.
• Identify independently opportunities to improve workflows, documentation accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Assist and manage with implementation and maintenance of process improvements.
• Ensure consistency and organization across systems, files, and reporting tools.

Vendor & Cross-Functional Communication

• Support and represent the limited non-technical communication with vendors related to documentation, inspections, and follow-up actions.
• Partner with Product Development, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment and issue resolution.
• Ensure clear communication regarding quality findings and required corrective actions.
• Maintain professionalism and responsiveness with both internal and external partners.

3. What Success Looks Like

• Maintains highly accurate product, quality, and compliance documentation.
• Supports and executes timely completion of development, inspection, and compliance deliverables.
• Ensures inspection issues and compliance gaps are escalated quickly and tracked through resolution with independent judgement.
• Contributes to organized, scalable operational processes across departments.
• Builds strong working relationships with cross-functional teams and external partners.

4. Team Expectations

• Demonstrates strong organization and attention to detail.
• Operates autonomously with minimal supervision and proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Communicates clearly and professionally across teams.
• Maintains accountability and consistency in execution.
• Balances and independently prioritize multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

5. Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in apparel, product operations, sourcing, quality, or compliance.
• 2+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, compliance, quality, or related operational support roles preferred.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with PLM systems, Adobe Illustrator, product data management, and reporting tools preferred.

6. Physical Requirement

• This role may occasionally require lifting and handling product samples, materials, or boxes (typically up to 25 lbs.).