Product Development Associate

Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc.; Hicksville (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. is seeking a detail-oriented Product Development Associate to support development, sourcing, and execution of promotional products across hardgoods, edible items, and apparel.

This role collaborates with sales, design, sourcing, production, compliance, and vendor teams to bring branded merchandise programs from concept through delivery while balancing quality, cost, timelines, and customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Experience in product development, sourcing, and production within promotional products or related industries.
• Strong understanding of product specs, supplier communication, quoting, sampling, and production timelines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholder expectations concurrently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with spreadsheets, product databases, and BOMs.
• Strong mathematical skills and problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop product ideas across hardgoods, edible items, apparel, packaging, and related programs for catalog and custom requests.
• Coordinate with domestic and overseas suppliers to obtain quotes, samples, specs, lead times, compliance docs, and production updates.
• Maintain accurate product information, costing, vendor details, sample status, and development timelines.
• Communicate project status, risks, changes, and next steps to internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Product development

Sourcing

Production management

Branded merchandise

Consumer goods

Apparel

Food gifting

Vendor coordination

Job description

Product Development Associate - Promotional Products

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and creative Product Development Specialist to support the development, sourcing, and execution of promotional products across hardgoods, edible, and apparel categories. This role partners closely with sales, design, sourcing, production, compliance, and vendor teams to bring branded merchandise programs from concept through delivery while balancing quality, cost, timelines, and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop product ideas across hardgoods, edible items, apparel, packaging, and related branded programs for our catalog and custom requests in a fast paced environment.
• Coordinate with domestic and overseas suppliers to obtain quotes, samples, specifications, lead times, compliance documentation, and production updates.
• Maintain accurate product information, costing, vendor details, sample status, project notes, and development timelines.
• Communicate project status, risks, changes, and next steps clearly to internal teams and external partners.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in product development, sourcing, production preferably within promotional products, branded merchandise, consumer goods, apparel, food gifting, or related industries.
• Strong understanding of product specifications, supplier communication, quoting, sampling and production timelines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, product categories, and stakeholder expectations simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with spreadsheets, product databases, bill of materials
• Strong Mathematical skills
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to anticipate issues and follow through on solutions.
• Knowledge of decoration methods, packaging, product safety, compliance, or import processes is a plus.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with hardgoods such as drinkware, bags, tech accessories, desk items, lifestyle products, kits, and packaging components.
• Experience with edible promotional products, including candy, snacks, baked goods, food gifts, labeling, and packaging requirements.
• Experience with apparel basics, branded wearables, embroidery, screen printing, heat transfer, patches, trims, and sizing considerations.