Product Development Associate - Apparel

Frances Valentine brings heritage and fashion together under one roof to create pieces that not only offer color joy, but also celebrate the unique origin stories behind each individual piece. 

From the craftsmanship to the styling of pieces, FV takes past waves of fashion and makes them new again, instilling a sense of nostalgia, timelessness, and colorful elegance.

We’re looking for a detail-driven, creatively minded Product Development Associate to join our growing team. In this newly created role for FV, you’ll be at the intersection of design, sourcing, and production—helping bring concepts to life from initial sketches to finished garments. You will manage the lifecycle of garments from design concept to production, bridging creative teams and manufacturers. Key responsibilities include tracking samples, maintaining tech packs, sourcing materials, and managing development calendars to ensure on-time delivery, quality, and margin goals. 

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, has a strong eye for detail, and is passionate about the product lifecycle. If you’re highly organized and excited by the process of turning ideas into tangible products, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Sample Management: Order, track, and review proto samples, lap dips and trim for accuracy. Attend and help to schedule fittings when necessary. .
• Tech Packs: Initiate and update Tech Packs & BOMs as appropriate for each category each season with the intent of passing them to the factories for development and also along to the Production team at the time of Production Order Placement.
• PLM: Update relevant information in PLM systems including color, costing and vendor information. 
• Vendor Communication: Communicate with all vendors on development of our product from start to finish to negotiate going in margin, ensure quality and manage deadlines.
• Calendars: Assist design with sample process from ordering raw materials to protos to market samples. Manage the development calendar to ensure that samples will be delivered on time. 
• Work with merchandising to ensure Line Sheets have the most updated information on them each season and for each category - including: pictures, costing and descriptions. 

Qualifications:

• 3 years of product development experience in apparel
• Previous garment fitting experience strongly preferred
• Proficiency in a PLM system, Excel and other MS Office
• Proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop is a plus
• Strong communication and presentation skills are required 
• Ability to meet deadline demands
• Highly organized and detail oriented with a positive can-do attitude 

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Compensation Details:

Budgeted salary range for this role is $70-85k. In addition to base salary, our benefits package includes: Medical, Dental, Vision insurance, Company-paid Basic Life AD&D Insurance, Paid-Time off, Company-paid holidays, Clothing Allowance & Employee discount, and more!