Product Development Associate

Planet Gold Clothing Co Inc; City of Niagara Falls (NY); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Golden Touch in New York is seeking a Product Development Associate to drive the end-to-end sample yardage process. You will coordinate with design, costing, and overseas partners to ensure correct fabrics and samples arrive on time and meet standards.

The role includes managing three development outputs, leading two direct reports, and maintaining PLM records. The position follows a hybrid schedule with four days in the office and one day remote; compensation is hourly in the New York market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in textiles, fashion, or a related field.
• 2+ years in apparel product development, raw materials, or sourcing.
• Experience managing development calendars and meeting fixed delivery milestones.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a high volume of open items in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with overseas partners and suppliers.
• Proficiency in Excel and PLM or a comparable product development system.
• Experience with mass/value retail, fabric costing, overseas mills, or mentoring/directing others is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); PLM experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end sample yardage pipeline and tracking.
• Maintain the sample yardage chart as reference for requests, approvals, and receipts.
• Partner with overseas mills and suppliers to secure yardage against development deadlines.
• Flag yardage constraints early to influence fabric selection.
• Manage the development sample calendar across designers with a prioritized schedule.
• Issue due dates to the overseas sample team and hold the line on them.
• Track samples through make and delivery and verify completeness.
• Capture feedback on sample accuracy and workmanship to address recurring issues.
• Support tailoring samples and seasonal milestones with the team calendar.
• Own and organize the sample yardage closet and fabric showroom upkeep.
• Coordinate daily with overseas fabric and sample teams across time zones.
• Provide development status reporting for the VP and wider team.
• Collaborate with Design on line plan needs and with Costing on handoff from development.
• Support seasonal development calendars and key account milestones.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Textiles, Fashion, or a related field

Tools

PLM

Excel

Job description

Description

The Product Development Associate owns the day-to-day execution of sample yardage and sample development for the New York product development team. The role sits between the design and costing functions and our overseas partners, making sure the right fabric is secured, the right samples are made, and both arrive on time and to standard.

The Associate carries their own development workload while managing two direct reports, the Knit Sample Yardage Development Associate and the Woven Sample Yardage Associate and is accountable for the output of all three.

Responsibilities

• Own the sample yardage pipeline end to end, from request through receipt, including tracking, chasing, and status reporting
• Maintain the sample yardage chart as the single reference for what has been requested, approved, and received
• Partner with overseas mills and suppliers to secure yardage against development deadlines, escalating where commitments slip
• Flag yardage constraints early enough to influence fabric selection rather than after the fact
• Manage the development sample calendar across designers, consolidating competing requests into a single prioritized schedule
• Issue clear, realistic due dates to the overseas sample team and hold the line on them
• Track samples through make and delivery, and confirm they arrive complete and correctly presented
• Capture and route structured feedback on sample accuracy and workmanship so recurring issues are addressed rather than repeated
• Support tailoring samples and seasonal development milestones alongside the broader team calendar
• Own the sample yardage closet, including how it is organized, maintained, and kept current
• Own the upkeep of the fabric showroom
• Support the fabric boards, which are owned by the fabric side of the team
• File all submits and approvals back into the books, keeping the physical records complete and retrievable
• Manage two direct reports: the Knit Sample Yardage Development Associate and the Woven Sample Yardage Associate
• Run regular one-to-ones, set weekly priorities, and balance workload across the pair
• Develop the team's product development judgment, not only their execution speed
• Serve as first escalation point before issues reach the VP
• Maintain accurate development records in PLM, treating it as the single source of truth
• Produce recurring development status reporting for the VP and wider team
• Coordinate daily with the overseas fabric and sample teams across time zones
• Partner with Design on line plan needs and with Costing on the handoff from development into costing
• Support seasonal development calendars and key account milestones

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Textiles, Fashion, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in apparel product development, raw materials, or sourcing, with knowledge of knit and woven fabric construction and terminology
• Experience managing development calendars, tracking multiple priorities, and meeting fixed delivery milestones
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a high volume of open items in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience working with overseas partners and suppliers
• Proficiency in Excel and PLM or a comparable product development system
• Experience with mass/value retail, fabric costing, overseas mills/sample rooms, or mentoring/directing others is preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); PLM experience a plus

Hybrid Work Schedule

4 days a week in the office, 1 day work from home

New York Pay Rate $25.00 - $32.50 per hour

We strive to hire and nurture amazing talent. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience, specialized skills, and internal alignment.

Company Overview

Golden Touch is a family owned and operated wholesale apparel manufacturer with a mission to deliver trend focused products for nearly 50 years. We produce private label brands for large mass market retailers across the globe specializing in children’s, junior, missy and women’s apparel.

Diversity Vision Statement

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our associates, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which we live and conduct business. We are an equal employment opportunity for minorities, females, protected veterans, and the disabled.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and treating our associates and applicants without discrimination based on their race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.