Assistant, Product Development

KITH•New York, NY

2d•$55,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Development Assistant, SMU Apparel and Graphics supports the day-to-day development of SMU collections, with a strong emphasis on trim development. Working closely with Product Development, Design, Production, and cross-functional teams, this role assists in bringing product from concept through pre-production. A core focus of the role is supporting trim development—assisting with sourcing, organizing, tracking, and reviewing trims to ensure they meet brand standards for design, quality, cost, and functionality. The ideal candidate has a foundational understanding or interest in trims and materials, is highly organized, and detail-oriented, and is eager to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Strong communication skills, a proactive mindset, and the ability to manage multiple tasks are essential for success in this role.

Requirements

1–3 years of product development experience.
Men’s experience is preferred.
Basic understanding of garment construction; willingness to learn and develop technical knowledge over time.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to support multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive mindset with developing problem-solving skills and the ability to follow direction while learning to balance creative and commercial needs.
Clear and professional communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office; familiarity with PLM systems and Google Sheets is a plus.

Responsibilities

Support the SMU Product Development Manager and Associate across multiple collections in a fast-paced environment.
Support the SMU Product Development Manager and Associate across multiple collections, with a strong focus on trim sourcing, development, and order tracking in a fast-paced environment.
Support seasonal trim development by sourcing vendors, requesting submissions, organizing options for review, and assisting with trim selection in partnership with Design and Product Development teams.
Assist in launching artwork with trim suppliers, following up with vendors to ensure on-time receipt and resolve delays.
Track and maintain trim development status across all styles by updating the Trim Development Tracking Chart and Label Packaging WIP, proactively flagging risks related to lead times, approvals, or shortages.
Manage the intake, logging, and organization of all trim, sample, and material deliveries, ensuring accuracy against requests, proper labeling, and routing to teams.
Prepare sample racks for internal reviews and Buy meetings, ensuring all required components (lab dips, strike-offs, CADs, reference materials, trims, and packaging) are accurate and included.
Support overseas development shipments by preparing and tracking trims, labels, fabrics, samples, and shipping documentation.
Assist with updating BOMs for all SKUs throughout the season.
Support SMS launches by assisting with counter tech packs, ensuring all details, references, and specifications are clearly documented, and gathering required DXF.
Gather, prepare, and ship reference samples and trim packages for development as needed.
File and organize YDS and TDS in the Shared Drive and Revo, ensuring all trim and material documentation is complete and up to date.
Maintain and organize trim, lining, denim, and yarn libraries, as well as sample racks and trim storage in shared spaces, ensuring materials are accessible and presentation ready.
Organize and maintain dropped samples and trims throughout the season.
Prepare and maintain seasonal Product Knowledge documentation for each SKU.