Associate Product Manager

JCPenney; Lloyd's Corners (NY); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Term life insurance

Paid vacation/holidays

401(k) with company match

Associate discount on Catalyst Brands

Job summary

Catalyst Brands in the United States is seeking an Associate Product Manager to coordinate end-to-end product development for Nautica Womens wear across knits, sweaters, wovens, outerwear and swim. You will partner with Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, and Sourcing to hit milestones and optimize quality and speed to market.

You will manage calendars, samples, costing, and T&A, while communicating with global suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and ensure timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Product Development, Business, or related field.
• 2–4 years in Product Development, Sourcing, or Production within retail/apparel.
• Knowledge of product development cycle and lifecycle.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Experience with PLM and MS Office preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute the seasonal product development process from concept through production.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, Materials, Sourcing and suppliers.
• Manage development calendars, costing, and milestones.
• Communicate with cross-functional teams and global suppliers.
• Identify risks and propose solutions to quality, cost, or timing issues.
• Support supplier communication to meet quality and delivery expectations.
• Maintain product information and status in PLM systems.
• Prepare development reports and status updates.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Assist Director in executing seasonal product strategies and objectives.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising / Product Development / Business or related field

Tools

PLM systems

Microsoft Excel

Word/Outlook

Job description

Overview

The Associate Product Manager, in partnership with cross-functional teams (Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, and Sourcing), coordinates and supports the end-to-end product development and production process for Nautica Women's Knits, Sweaters, Wovens, Outerwear, and Swim. The Associate Product Manager proactively identifies opportunities to elevate product quality, achieve category financial objectives, improve speed to market, and enhance operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute the seasonal product development process from concept through production under the direction of the Director.
• Partner with Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, Materials, Sourcing, and suppliers to ensure product development milestones are achieved on time.
• Manage the seasonal development calendar and production T&A, proactively tracking samples, fit approvals, materials, costing, and key deliverables.
• Coordinate day-to-day communication with internal cross-functional teams and global suppliers to support timely execution and issue resolution.
• Monitor development progress, identify risks to quality, cost, or timing, and elevate issues with recommended solutions.
• Support supplier communication to ensure Nautica's product, quality, and delivery expectations are clearly understood and executed.
• Maintain accurate product information, specifications, and development status within PLM and other business systems.
• Prepare product development reports, meeting materials, and status updates to support milestone reviews and cross-functional decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve development efficiency, calendar execution, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support the Director in executing seasonal product strategies and achieving category financial, quality, and delivery objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Product Development, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years of experience in Product Development, Sourcing, or Production within a retail, wholesale, or apparel organization.
• Working knowledge of the product development process and apparel product lifecycle.
• Strong organizational, time management, and follow-up skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and suppliers.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Basic understanding of costing, sourcing, and production processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook; experience with PLM systems is preferred.
• Self‑motivated, collaborative, and eager to learn in a team‑oriented environment.
• Ability to travel as business needs require.
• Adhere to the company's hybrid work policy and maintain regular in-office presence to support collaboration and team engagement.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you Get:

Enjoy a rewarding career at Catalyst, where we offer a competitive benefits package, a vibrant work environment, and the opportunity to make a difference with America's most iconic retail brands.

• Generous benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance starting on day one, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays, 401(k) Savings Plan with company match, and an associate discount on merchandise across all Catalyst Brands.

Opportunities for growth and development: We are committed to helping our employees grow their careers and develop their skills. We offer a variety of training and development programs, as well as opportunities for advancement.

Collaborative and supportive culture: We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage teamwork and collaboration, and we are always looking for ways to support our employees' success.

About Catalyst:

Catalyst Brands reflects the bringing together the rich heritages of our brands with modern excitement and a new vision for success. Five iconic brands came together under a unified powerhouse portfolio to celebrate the essence of American style. We will leverage our rich history, resources and best-in-class industry talent to further build the success of our brands. At Catalyst we are united in one shared purpose: We exist to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.

What You Get:

If eligible, we offer a competitive benefits package including medical/dental/vision, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays*, and 401(k) with Company match. All associates are eligible for an associate discount on Catalyst Brands merchandise. For paid holidays, associates who are eligible for paid vacation (MTO) are also eligible for eight paid holidays during the calendar year. All store hourly associates scheduled to work on a designated holiday will receive additional compensation. *For paid vacation days, as well as eligibility requirements for other benefits, please visit www.catalystbrandsbenefits.com

Pay Range

USD $62,700.00 - USD $114,000.00 /Yr.