Product Development Coordinator

Aquent is partnering with a globally recognized retail brand that is a leader in its industry, renowned for shaping trends and delivering innovative products to a vast customer base. This brand is committed to excellence in design, quality, and customer experience, driven by a dynamic and collaborative product development process.

Are you a highly organized and detail-oriented individual with a passion for bringing products to life? We are seeking a talented professional to join a vibrant Product Development team. In this pivotal role, you will be the linchpin of the sampling process, directly influencing the accuracy and timely representation of new assortments. Your meticulous coordination and proactive communication will ensure that critical decisions are made efficiently, directly impacting the launch of exciting new collections and delighting customers. Get ready to make a tangible impact on product readiness and collaborate with diverse teams to shape the future of product offerings!

This is a hybrid role, requiring onsite presence 2 days per week, with flexibility to be onsite up to 4 days per week during peak or milestone periods

**What you'll do:**

* Coordinate the end-to-end sampling process, including ordering sample yardage at various stages and tracking garment samples.

* Process vendor and supplier invoices related to sample yardage and sample-making costs.

* Take ownership of all sampling needs for designated product categories, ensuring accurate and timely receipt of garment samples.

* Maintain consistent communication with vendors and suppliers to ensure adherence to the brand calendar.

* Act as a crucial liaison between cross-functional partners, including Design, Product Development, Raw Materials, Print and Color, Marketing, and Merchandising, as well as external vendor and supplier partners.

* Participate in weekly cross-functional meetings to understand product assortment, business priorities, and represent all sampling-related topics.

* Manage seasonal sample yardage cost and readiness reporting, publishing updates to leaders and the business.

* Keep the seasonal sample tracker updated and provide readiness reporting to teams ahead of key milestone meetings.

* Support the creation of leadership dashboards, providing headlines and metrics before milestone meetings.

* Observe business processes, anticipate potential needs, and identify areas for improvement.

* Prioritize workload effectively and manage competing deliverables and business priorities.

**What you'll bring:**

* Bachelor's degree in product development or a related area, or equivalent professional experience.

* 1 - 3 years of related experience in a product development or sampling coordination role.

* Demonstrated strong, consistent problem-solving abilities and result-driven communication with business partners.

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

* Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

* Knowledge of the product lifecycle, especially within a retail setting.

* Exceptional organizational skills with a strong ability to collaborate, communicate, and foster positive interpersonal relationships.

* Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and capable of working independently while also being a strong team player.

* Ability to prioritize tasks and multi-task effectively in a fast-paced environment.

**Stand-out qualifications:**

* Prior product development experience and/or basic fabric knowledge.

* Basic knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, with experience in specific PLM software being a significant advantage.

* Basic knowledge of garment construction.

* A detail-oriented, organized, positive, and outgoing approach to your work.

**About Aquent Talent:**

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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