Production Associate

Malbon•Santa Monica, CA

11d•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Malbon is seeking a Production Associate to support our growing brand partnerships and collaboration initiatives. This role sits at the intersection of production and product development, owning the lifecycle of collaborative products from tech pack submission through final delivery. The ideal candidate thrives in a contemporary, fast-paced apparel environment and is comfortable wearing multiple hats across development, sourcing, and production execution. Location: Malbon HQ is based in Santa Monica, CA. We are currently operating from a hybrid work schedule of 3 days a week in-office.

Requirements

5 years of experience in production, merchandising operations, or a related function with direct exposure to vendors and purchase order management
Background in a fast-paced contemporary or emerging brand (e.g., high-volume DTC or growth-stage companies)
Strong understanding of tech packs, garment construction, sourcing, and vendor communication
Ability to manage multiple collections simultaneously with exceptional organizationComfortable in an environment where priorities shift and teams move quickly
Entrepreneurial mentality; resourceful with creative problem-solving skills
Experience working with factories and mills directlyAbility to manage purchase order workflows end-to-end, including tracking status, identifying variances, and driving timely resolutionHands-on experience using PLM systems to review, update, and maintain product, costing, and production data with a high level of accuracy

Nice To Haves

Experience in brand partnerships or collaborations is a strong plus

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end production lifecycle for collaborative and partnership collections
Correspond daily with factories on all developments, growing vendor relationships
Submit initial tech packs and ensure clear, accurate communication with vendorsIssue and submit purchase orders
Track product development milestones from proto through bulk productionMonitor pre-production approvals to ensure delivery dates remain on track
Oversee costing, sampling timelines, approvals, and production calendarsNegotiate delivery delays, troubleshoot production issues, and partner with vendors to maintain on-time execution
Maintain detailed tracking systems to ensure deadlines are met across multiple concurrent collections
Support quality control and ensure collaborative products meet Malbonâs brand standards
Working on multiple seasons at once and balancing workload
Partner cross-functionally with Product, Design, Merchandising, and external brand collaborators