Product Development Associate

Alexis Bittar; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexis Bittar, rooted in Brooklyn, seeks a Product Development Associate to support daily jewelry development from tech pack handoff to production handover. You will maintain trackers and line sheets, coordinate sample development and vendor follow-up, support costing, document approvals, and ensure all product details, compliance, and handover data are complete and production-ready.

You will track calendars, update status with the VP, manage sample development and quotes, review costs, and

Qualifications

• At least 2 years in jewelry product development, sourcing, production, or manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of jewelry materials, construction, finishes, components, manufacturing processes, and quality standards.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain accuracy across many styles, details, and deadlines.
• Strong vendor communication, negotiation, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, spreadsheets, and ERP systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience preferred.
• Availability to work in the office and collaborate with the team in accordance with current company policy.

Responsibilities

• Follow the jewelry development time-and-action calendar established by the VP, tracking styles, samples, approvals, revisions, costs, testing requirements, and production handover deadlines.
• Maintain accurate development trackers and provide regular status updates to the VP, identifying completed actions, upcoming deadlines, and areas at risk.
• Create and maintain accurate line sheets and development records, ensuring style numbers, product descriptions, materials, dimensions, components, finishes, colorways, costs, and other key details remain current and consistent.
• Communicate updates, changes, sample comments, approvals, and required documentation to relevant internal teams and vendors in a timely and organized manner.
• Serve as the day-to-day coordinator between Design, vendors, and internal teams throughout the development process, ensuring design intent, construction requirements, quality expectations, costs, and deadlines are clearly communicated.
• Facilitate sample development by following up with vendors, tracking revisions, documenting comments, and confirming that revised samples address prior feedback before approval or handoff.
• Obtain quotes, review costing details, and support initial cost negotiation within approved targets and parameters; escalate cost concerns to the VP with feasible alternatives when needed.
• Conduct quality reviews of development samples, confirming that samples meet approved aesthetic, construction, measurement, finish, functionality, wearability, and quality expectations.
• Document sample-quality issues clearly and provide vendors with actionable correction comments, partnering with Design, Production, and the VP to resolve concerns.
• Confirm that all sample comments, specifications, costs, materials, components, testing, compliance requirements, and approvals are complete before coordinating the handover of approved styles to Production.
• Support the vetting and onboarding of new vendors by communicating company expectations and collecting required documentation related to quality, testing, labeling, packaging, and compliance.
• Promptly escalation material quality, safety, compliance, cost, vendor-performance, or production-readiness concerns to the VP.

Skills

Jewelry knowledge

Organization

Vendor communication

Adobe Illustrator

Spreadsheets

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Rooted in Brooklyn, Alexis Bittar is a jewelry and handbags brand at the intersection of art and fashion, with a creative legacy spanning over 35 years. Guided by a unique vision, we create wearable art that celebrates individuality, embraces the unexpected, and challenges the ordinary. Our distinctive designs have attracted a diverse celebrity following, reflecting the brand’s appeal across generations and personal styles. Founder Alexis Bittar brings that same creative ingenuity to marketing through disruptive storytelling that has earned the brand three Webby Awards.

Who You Are

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Product Development Associate to support the day-to-day development of our jewelry collections, from tech pack handoff through production handover. In this role, you will maintain accurate trackers and line sheets, coordinate sample development and vendor follow-up, support costing, document comments and approvals, and review sample quality. You will help ensure that all required product details, compliance documentation, and handover information are complete and production-ready.

What You'll Do

• Follow the jewelry development time-and-action calendar established by the VP, tracking styles, samples, approvals, revisions, costs, testing requirements, and production handover deadlines.
• Maintain accurate development trackers and provide regular status updates to the VP, identifying completed actions, upcoming deadlines, and areas at risk.
• Create and maintain accurate line sheets and development records, ensuring style numbers, product descriptions, materials, dimensions, components, finishes, colorways, costs, and other key details remain current and consistent.
• Communicate updates, changes, sample comments, approvals, and required documentation to relevant internal teams and vendors in a timely and organized manner.
• Serve as the day-to-day coordinator between Design, vendors, and internal teams throughout the development process, ensuring design intent, construction requirements, quality expectations, costs, and deadlines are clearly communicated.
• Facilitate sample development by following up with vendors, tracking revisions, documenting comments, and confirming that revised samples address prior feedback before approval or handoff.
• Obtain quotes, review costing details, and support initial cost negotiation within approved targets and parameters; escalat cost concerns to the VP with feasible alternatives when needed.
• Conduct quality reviews of development samples, confirming that samples meet approved aesthetic, construction, measurement, finish, functionality, wearability, and quality expectations.
• Document sample-quality issues clearly and provide vendors with actionable correction comments, partnering with Design, Production, and the VP to resolve concerns.
• Confirm that all sample comments, specifications, costs, materials, components, testing, compliance requirements, and approvals are complete before coordinating the handover of approved styles to Production.
• Support the vetting and onboarding of new vendors by communicating company expectations and collecting required documentation related to quality, testing, labeling, packaging, and compliance.
• Promptly escalation material quality, safety, compliance, cost, vendor-performance, or production-readiness concerns to the VP.

What You Bring

• At least 2 years of experience in jewelry product development, sourcing, produc-tion, or manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of jewelry materials, construction, finishes, components, manufacturing processes, and quality standards.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain accuracy across a large number of styles, details, and deadlines.
• Strong vendor communication, negotiation, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, spreadsheets, and ERP systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and pro-fessional experience preferred.
• Availability to work in the office and collaborate with the team in accordance with current company policy.