Product Development Associate

Fourth Floor; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Fourth Floor is seeking a Product Development Associate to join our team in New York City. You will partner with Product Development, Production, Design and Merchandising throughout the lifecycle to drive sample development and costs.

You will review tech packs, coordinate sourcing, and manage costing to meet margins, while ensuring on-time delivery and quality standards across suppliers and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of fabrics, trims, garment construction and production processes.
• Understanding of costing, negotiations, testing, quality standards and production timelines.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Adobe Illustrator is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain attention to detail.
• Collaborative, proactive and solutions-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Product Development, Production, Design, and Merchandising teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Review tech packs and prototype needs to support accurate sample development.
• Conduct preliminary costing and identify material alternatives to meet target costs and margins.
• Coordinate sourcing, sample tracking, lab dips, strike-offs, and artwork approvals.
• Communicate development comments and updates to suppliers, factories, and internal teams.
• Manage costing from initial estimates through final approval while supporting IMU targets.
• Track development and production timelines, identify risks, and resolve issues to ensure on-time delivery.
• Participate in fittings, testing, WIP meetings, and quality reviews to maintain product standards.
• Partner with suppliers and QC teams to address quality concerns and ensure products meet company requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve lead times, efficiency, and overall product execution.

Skills

Fabric knowledge

Trims knowledge

Garment construction

Production processes

Microsoft Office

Adobe Illustrator

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Our client, a fast growing Apparel Company, is looking for a Product Development Associate to join their team in NYC!

Responsibilities

• Partner with Product Development, Production, Design, and Merchandising teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Review tech packs and prototype needs to support accurate sample development.
• Conduct preliminary costing and identify material alternatives to meet target costs and margins.
• Coordinate sourcing, sample tracking, lab dips, strike-offs, and artwork approvals.
• Communicate development comments and updates to suppliers, factories, and internal teams.
• Manage costing from initial estimates through final approval while supporting IMU targets.
• Track development and production timelines, identify risks, and resolve issues to ensure on-time delivery.
• Participate in fittings, testing, WIP meetings, and quality reviews to maintain product standards.
• Partner with suppliers and QC teams to address quality concerns and ensure products meet company requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve lead times, efficiency, and overall product execution.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of fabrics, trims, garment construction, and production processes.
• Understanding of costing, negotiations, testing, quality standards, and production timelines.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Adobe Illustrator is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain strong attention to detail.
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented approach.