What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Development Associate, International Handbags position at Steve Madden?
General Summary
The Product Development Associate is responsible for supporting the SMI International Handbag Team throughout design and development lifecycle from concept through final sample. This position supports the Steve Madden International Handbag business. This position is based in our NYC office and requires working on-site..
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the design and development process of handbags from concept through final sample, ensuring design intent and technical accuracy are maintained throughout
- Assist in the preparation and ongoing updates of seasonal trend boards and color palettes to reflect evolving concepts and market direction
- Create and maintain seasonal CAD decks, and update existing CADs and specification sheets in Egnyte as needed
- Track the development progress and raw material status each season, ensuring timely follow-ups with cross-functional partners and factories
- Help maintain seasonal development books by factory and organize all incoming and outgoing samples with accurate tracking of status and approvals across development stages
- Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines with support and resources as needed
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned
Specific Job Skills:
Essential duties include
- Technical designing
- Open and distribute daily packages; unpack, label, and manage incoming samples to ensure seamless processing
- Coordinate the shipment of samples and development materials to and from overseas factories and internal partners, ensuring timely and accurate delivery
- Assist in the maintenance of technical packages, including construction details, measurements, and revisions in response to development changes or factory feedback
- Communicate basic technical updates and clarifications to factories, under the guidance of senior team members
- Maintain seasonal material cards and maintain the organization of seasonal reference samples and archives
- Oversee the Handbag Design Archive Closet, ensuring all samples and materials are properly labeled, stored, and cataloged for future use
- Support in organizing and preparing reference sample shipments to factories, categorized by season and collection
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accessories Design, Fashion Design, Product Development, or a related field
- Minimum of 1–3 years of experience in handbag design, product development, or technical design preferred
- Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and familiarity with PLM systems or digital file management (e.g., Egnyte)
- Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and organizational skills
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills; able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and with overseas vendors
- Detail-oriented with a proactive approach to problem-solving and workflow improvement.
- Passion for handbags and accessories, and an understanding of both the design and technical development process
The expected base salary for this position ranges from $26.00-$31.25/Hr. Ranges are based on various factors such as relevant skillset, training, years of experience related to the current job description, education, and our organizational structure. In addition to the base salary, Steve Madden offers a competitive benefits package that includes health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401K, paid holidays, a generous paid time-off policy, and career opportunities within a dynamic team.
Salary : $26 - $31