Associate Manager, Product Development

Centric Brands•New York, NY

6d•$75,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together. From sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, order placement, pricing, quality control and getting the finished product where it needs to be, our production/product development team is responsible for ensuring we keep our standards high and our business profitable at every step of the journey. If you are a focused, results-driven, tenacious and highly flexible team player, we’ll give you every opportunity to build a rewarding career with one of the world’s foremost major lifestyle brand collectives.

Requirements

Comprehensive understanding of the apparel product development lifecycle and seasonal milestones.
Technical knowledge of fabric qualities, finishes, printing, color science, and embellishment techniques.
Understanding of Child Safety Guidelines for Kids apparel.
Experience working directly with overseas vendors and cross-functional partners.
Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously in a fastpaced environment.
Proficiency in FlexPLM, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Illustrator (preferred).
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Bachelor’s degree preferred in Product Development, Apparel Design, or related field.
3–5 years of product development or relevant apparel industry experience.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in FlexPLM, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Illustrator (preferred).

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day product development activities for assigned categories from concept through final approval.
Participate in seasonal milestone meetings with Design to gain alignment on product vision, development priorities, and execution requirements.
Partner directly with overseas vendors throughout the development process, reviewing and providing feedback on lab dips, strike-offs, artwork placements, prototypes, sales samples, and pre-production samples.
Evaluate development submissions to ensure adherence to quality standards, design intent, and product specifications.
Review tech packs within PLM to ensure development packages are complete, accurate, and executable by manufacturing partners.
Collaborate with Design and Technical Design during proto review meetings to assess garment construction, trims, artwork placement, and overall product execution.
Identify development risks, communicate issues proactively, and recommend solutions to maintain development timelines.
Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure development milestones are achieved and seasonal calendars remain on track.
Maintain design integrity throughout all rounds of product development until final approval.
Manage approval tracking, seasonal development charts, and PLM data accuracy for assigned categories.
Maintain fabric, trim, print, and color standard libraries for future development reference.
Support implementation of process improvements and best practices established by Product Development leadership.