Assoc Mgr, Product Development - Joe's Jeans

Centric Brands Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Summer Fridays

Generous PTO

Merchandise discounts

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Centric Brands Inc. in Los Angeles is seeking a Product Development Associate Manager to drive seasonal collections from concept to market.

You will partner with Design, Production, Sourcing, and external manufacturers to manage timelines, support costing, and ensure timely delivery with quality and commercial goals. The ideal candidate has 5-7 years in apparel product development, strong project management, and experience with PLM systems.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of apparel product development experience across denim, woven, knit, cut-and-sew, and sweater classifications.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, sewing techniques, fabric development, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to interpret and work from technical packages and development specifications.
• Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization skills.
• Experience with PLM systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary contact with factories and vendor partners throughout development lifecycle.
• Track development progress from prototypes to sales samples with clear status updates.
• Support costing analysis by reviewing cost information at each stage.
• Maintain development and costing tools for cross-functional visibility.
• Collaborate with Design, Production, and Sourcing to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Monitor calendar milestones and address risks to timelines.
• Provide practical solutions balancing aesthetics with manufacturability.
• Help handoff between development, pre-production, and production teams.
• Ensure communication and records are detailed and accurate.
• Assist with sourcing of fabrics, trims, and other materials.
• Support tech pack creation and updates.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings to review status and plan next steps.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment and provide support as needed.

Skills

PLM systems

Excel

Outlook

Word

Adobe Illustrator

Communication

Negotiation

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Tools

PLM systems

Excel

Outlook

Word

Illustrator

Job description

About Us

Founded in 2001 by Creative Director Joe Dahan, Joe's redefines everyday style with its inherently LA sensibility and distinctive rock + roll point-of-view.

With an emphasis on offering the perfect fit for everybody, the brand takes a revolutionary approach to denim and sophisticated classics, incorporating the very latest in technology to offer product that is beautiful, innovative, and fits flawlessly.

From developing the product strategies to growing our brands, merchandising careers at Centric Brands offer exciting possibilities to grow a career with one of world’s foremost lifestyle brands collectives. From helping develop the merchandise mix to ensuring stores and online site have the right products in the right quantities to creating the long-term brand strategy, a career in merchandising and planning offers you a chance to make a positive impact on our success – and yours.

The Product Development Associate Manager plays a key role in bringing seasonal collections from concept to market. This position partners closely with Design, Production, Sourcing, and external manufacturing partners to manage development timelines, support costing initiatives, and ensure products are delivered on schedule while meeting quality, aesthetic, and commercial objectives. The ideal candidate is highly organized, solutions-oriented, and experienced in managing the development process across multiple product categories.

Specific Responsibilities Would Include

• Serve as a primary point of contact with factories and vendor partners throughout the development lifecycle.
• Track and manage development progress from initial prototypes through sales samples, maintaining clear and accurate status updates.
• Support costing analysis by requesting, reviewing, and monitoring cost information throughout each stage of development.
• Maintain and update development and costing tools to ensure cross-functional visibility and alignment.
• Collaborate with Design, Production, and Sourcing teams to identify cost-saving opportunities while preserving product integrity and design intent.
• Monitor key calendar milestones and proactively address potential risks to development timelines.
• Provide practical solutions to development and production challenges, balancing aesthetic goals with manufacturing feasibility.
• Help facilitate smooth handoffs between development, pre-production, and production teams.
• Ensure all communication, documentation, and development records are detailed, organized, and accurate.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support garment classification and duty considerations during costing.
• Assist with sourcing and development of fabrics, trims, and other raw materials.
• Support with tech pack creation and updates when needed.
• Participate in regular cross-functional meetings to review development status, resolve outstanding issues, and align on next steps.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment and provide additional departmental support as needed.

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

• 5-7 years of apparel product development experience, preferably across multiple categories including denim, woven, knit, cut-and-sew, and sweater classifications.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, sewing techniques, fabric development, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to interpret and work from technical packages and development specifications.
• Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with PLM systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Detail-oriented with a proactive, solution-focused approach.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a cross-functional environment.
• Experience in Adobe suite, primarily Illustrator, a plus.

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $80,000-90,000

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer