Product Development Associate

Steve Madden

New York (NY)

On-site

USD 66,000 - 69,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401K

Paid holidays

Generous paid time-off policy

Career opportunities within a dynamic팀

Job summary

Steve Madden is seeking a highly organized Product Development Associate to connect Sales, Design, Production, Sourcing, and overseas offices, ensuring samples and orders move efficiently. You’ll play a central role in bringing product from development through production to the customer in a fast-paced fashion environment.

You’ll gain exposure to the full product lifecycle while coordinating with global partners.

Qualifications

Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience working with overseas vendors, factories, or global partners is a plus.
Experience with product development, production, merchandising, or order management systems is preferred.
Ability to collaborate with multiple departments and build strong working relationships.
Solutions-oriented mindset to identify issues and drive resolution.

Responsibilities

Support product development and production from order placement to final execution.
Communicate daily with overseas offices and factory partners to keep timelines on track.
Coordinate and track sample requests and deliveries between factories and customers.
Create and maintain sample hangtags for all development and production samples.
Maintain and update Spark with accurate product, development, and order information.
Prepare detailed buy sheets following order placement to support Production and internal teams.
Place purchase orders with factories with accurate product details and pricing.
Enter customer purchase orders into internal systems within timelines.
Maintain tracking sheets for all order and development information.
Review purchase orders for discrepancies and coordinate resolution with teams.
Manage item setup ensuring complete product information.
Keep organized, up-to-date records and documentation throughout lifecycle.
Collaborate with Sales, Design, Production, Sourcing, and overseas teams to coordinate priorities.
Be a reliable point of contact between internal teams, global partners, factories, and customers.
Proactively follow up on open items and keep milestones on schedule.
Support special projects and additional initiatives.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Excellent written and verbal

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Experience with overseas vendors

Collaboration across departments

Proactive problem solving

Tools

Order management systems

Product development systems

Merchandising systems

Job description

Who We Are

Steve Madden is a global fashion company known for its innovative, trend-driven footwear, accessories, and apparel. Founded in 1990 in Queens, New York, the company has grown from a footwear startup into a globally recognized fashion organization with a portfolio of leading brands, including Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger London, Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Carvela, Blondo, and ATM.

Who We Are

With a presence in more than 80 countries, Steve Madden operates across wholesale, retail, e-commerce, licensing, and private label businesses. The company is driven by creativity, individuality, and a fast-paced entrepreneurial spirit, bringing fashion-forward products to consumers around the world.

About The Opportunity

We’re looking for a highly organized, detail-driven Product Development Associate to join our team and play an important role in bringing product from development through production and ultimately to the customer.

In this role, you’ll serve as a key connector between our Sales, Design, Production, Sourcing, overseas offices, factory partners, and customers, helping keep product, samples, orders, and information moving seamlessly throughout the process. This role reports to the Production Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced fashion environment, enjoys working with multiple teams, and takes pride in making sure every detail is accurate and every deadline is met. You’ll gain broad exposure to the product lifecycle while working closely with both internal and global partners. This position is based onsite in our NYC office.

What You’ll Do

Drive Product Development & Production

Support the product development and production process from order placement through final execution, helping ensure product moves smoothly and accurately through each stage.
Communicate daily with overseas offices and factory partners to keep development and production timelines on track.
Coordinate and track sample requests and deliveries between factories and customers, ensuring samples arrive accurately and on time.
Create and maintain sample hangtags for all development and production samples.
Maintain and update Spark with accurate product, development, and order information.
Prepare detailed buy sheets following order placement to support Production and internal teams.

Own Order Execution & Accuracy

Place purchase orders with factories, ensuring all product, quantity, pricing, and order details are accurate.
Enter customer purchase orders into internal systems accurately and within established timelines.
Maintain the tracking sheet, ensuring all order and development information is current and complete.
Review purchase orders for discrepancies and communicate issues to the customer while coordinating resolution with internal and overseas teams.
Manage item setup following order placement, ensuring all product information is complete and accurate.
Maintain organized, up-to-date records and documentation throughout the development and production lifecycle.

Collaborate Across the Business

Partner closely with Sales, Design, Production, Sourcing, and overseas teams to coordinate priorities and resolve issues.
Act as a reliable point of contact between internal teams, global partners, factories, and customers.
Proactively follow up on open items, identify potential issues, and help keep critical milestones on schedule.
Support special projects and additional initiatives as needed.

What You Bring

Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, you’re someone who naturally keeps track of the details while seeing the bigger picture.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong follow-up skills and a proactive approach to getting things done.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience working with overseas vendors, factories, or global partners is a plus.
Experience with product development, production, merchandising, or order management systems is preferred.
Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple departments and build strong working relationships.
A solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to identify issues, communicate clearly, and help drive them to resolution.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to get hands-on exposure to the full product lifecycle while working with teams across the globe. You’ll be at the center of the action, connecting teams, managing critical details, coordinating samples and orders, and helping ensure product gets from development to the customer successfully. If you’re organized, proactive, fashion-focused, and energized by a role where no two days are exactly alike, this could be a great opportunity to grow your career in product development.

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $66,300-$69,000. Ranges are based on various factors such as relevant skillset, training, years of experience related to the current job description, education, and our organizational structure.

In addition to the base salary, Steve Madden offers a competitive benefits package that includes: