Product Development Specialist

Binding Minds Inc. (Certified Disability Owned Business Enterprise); New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Binding Minds Inc. is seeking an organized administrator to support product development, merchandising and buying activities.

You will collaborate with Buyers and Vendors to ensure timely sample inspections, encode feedback and maintain quality standards across supplier networks. The role emphasizes strong communication, multi-project management, and attention to color, design and detail, with opportunities to participate in training sessions and special projects within a fast-paced retail

Qualifications

• Clear and effective communication with internal teams and vendors.
• Strong organizational skills with reliable follow-through.
• Ability to work well in a team and manage multiple projects.
• Attention to color, design and detail for product evaluation.
• 2+ years in administration, merchandising, production, PD, or buying/planning.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Buyers to implement quality, value and design programs.
• Identify quality issues from pre-production samples and stores visits.
• Foster vendor relationships and ensure timely flow of goods.
• Track production sample inspections and respond to issues.
• Develop trainings and share product knowledge with Merchants.
• Maintain library of specs, samples and quality standards.
• Assist in market travels and competitive analysis to identify issues.
• Manage on-order status and sample approvals; support special projects.
• Open, process and organize daily receipt of samples; perform office duties.

Skills

Strong communication

Strong organization

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Attention to color and design

Experience in admin/merchandising/buy/

Job description

Collaborates with Buyers to develop a full implementation of product quality, value and design. Identifies quality issues by receiving pre-production and product samples from vendors. Gains product knowledge through visiting stores and factories and attending product development training classes. Establishes a system to request, receive and respond to all production sample inspections in a timely manner.

Establishes and fosters relationships with the vendors to maintain regular and effective communication efforts. Partner with Merchant and Vendor to establish quality requirements, best practices and ensure timely flow of goods through the production cycle. Ensure all federal safety and labeling regulations are followed.

Interacts with Buyers and DVP, Merchandise Managers to identify and manage a system to track incentive purchases, production updates and quality concerns. Develops and conducts informational and training sessions with Merchants new to the company and department.

Maintains a library of specifications, samples and quality standards. Documents all problem purchases and their subsequent resolutions.

Assist in building product knowledge and identifies quality issues through market travel, mix assessment of our stores/competition and attending product training classes

Maintains systems to manage on order for and track samples received and approval status

Special projects as assigned or directed.

• Opens, process and organize daily receipt of samples
• General office duties including but not limited to filing, purging old files and samples, opening packages, maintaining sample swatch books/files/photo streams, testing lab paperwork, FedEx to vendors, presentation support

Experienced Required to Perform this Job:

• Strong Communication Skills
• Strong organization skills and follow through skills
• Works well in a team environment
• Ability to handle multiple projects
• Good eye for color, design and detail
• 2+ years administration, merchandising, production, PD, or buying/planning experience