What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Development Operations Associate position at LAKE?
About LAKE
LAKE started because two friends had a wild dream and the grit to see it through. We retained that entrepreneurial spirit while infusing our company with the things that really matter along the way, like kindness, trust, and authenticity. We're always above ego and work hard — in the softest pajamas imaginable. LAKE believes that the most comfortable part of your day should be celebrated. For us, these comfortable moments are nights at home with our families, weekend escapes with friends, a dose of me-time after a long day, and holidays that gather everyone together.
Your mission
To support and drive the creation and delivery of products from concept to SMS, ensuring accuracy and alignment across all materials, trims, samples, and data. You’ll be the central connector between Design, Tech Design, and vendor partners, keeping projects on track and maintaining transparency throughout development.
You will
- Partner with Design and PD leadership to drive seasonal fabric and trim development aligned with concept direction and line plans, working with mills and vendors to own all aspects of test reports
- Manage all fabric and trim submits (lab dips, strike-offs, handlooms), ensuring timely vendor feedback and approvals.
- Maintain accurate material data and documentation in a Fabric & Trim Library and data in Centric PLM, including composition, construction, and supplier details.
- Manage full proto, fit and SMS dev, tracking progress against the T&A calendar, coordinating and logging shipments from vendors in the Line Status Chart & SMS Tracker and flagging delays or risks.
- Serve as daily liaison with vendors, communicating approvals, feedback, costs, and next steps professionally and promptly and escalating to internal team promptly.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Tech, Planning, and Finance to align on materials, color, costing, and production readiness, keeping all data accurate and on time
- Manage costing data and BOM accuracy in PLM, supporting cost validation and identifying opportunities for savings or material consolidation.
- Support continuous process improvement by streamlining PLM usage, sample tracking, and vendor communication practices.
You should have
- 2-5 years in a product development role
- Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to handle multiple styles and vendors simultaneously.
- Excellent written and verbal communication with attention to tone and follow-up.
- Advanced Excel / Google Sheets and Centric PLM proficiency.
- High attention to detail and accuracy in all data entry.
- Proactive, solutions-oriented approach to problem solving.
- Understanding of apparel development timelines, materials, and garment construction.