Development Associate Jobs in Melrose, MA (NOW HIRING)

Description

1. Role Overview

The Apparel Product Development Associate supports and owns the day-to-day execution of product development, quality, and compliance operations across the product lifecycle. This role plays a critical coordination function between Product Development, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate product data, organized documentation, compliance readiness, exercising independent judgement and  and timely issue resolution.
 

The Associate is responsible for maintaining operational accuracy and supporting scalable processes that improve product execution, inspection tracking, vendor communication, and compliance management. This role helps ensure and evaluate independently products meet company quality standards, regulatory requirements, and timeline expectations while supporting continuous process improvement across the organization.

This is a hybrid position requiring regular in-office attendance 3-4 days per week. Additional in-office attendance may be required as needed to support business priorities, including meetings, project deadlines, and product reviews.

2. Core Responsibilities

Support Product Development teams and manage with product setup, material coordination, file management, and PLM updates.

Maintain accurate product information, specifications, and documentation throughout the development lifecycle.

Coordinate sample tracking, direct approvals, and internal communication to support on-time development milestones.

Assist with organization and maintenance of seasonal product files and development records.

Support cross-functional collaboration and serve as point of contact between Product Development, Production, Quality, and Sourcing teams' alignment.

Evaluate and execute the quality inspection processes by tracking inspections, documenting results, and maintaining organized records.

Monitor and assess quality issues, escalate concerns to leadership in a timely manner with proposed resolutions

Ensure inspection reports and corrective action documentation are properly maintained.

Recommend and assist with follow-up communication regarding quality-related action items.

Help drive consistency and accountability within quality tracking processes.

Collect, organize, and maintain testing reports, certifications, and compliance documentation.

Independently manage and Support annual compliance updates and documentation renewals.

Maintain records required for internal audits and regulatory compliance.

Ensure compliance documentation is accurate, complete, and accessible.

Track expiration dates and follow up on missing or outstanding documentation.

Maintain and analyze operational accuracy of records and reporting across product development, quality, and compliance functions.

Support operational reporting and KPI tracking.

Identify independently opportunities to improve workflows, documentation accuracy, and operational efficiency.

Assist and manage with implementation and maintenance of process improvements.

Ensure consistency and organization across systems, files, and reporting tools.

Support and represent the limited non-technical communication with vendors related to documentation, inspections, and follow-up actions.

Partner with Product Development, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment and issue resolution.

Ensure clear communication regarding quality findings and required corrective actions.

Maintain professionalism and responsiveness with both internal and external partners.

3. What Success Looks Like

Maintains highly accurate product, quality, and compliance documentation.

Supports and executes timely completion of development, inspection, and compliance deliverables.

Ensures inspection issues and compliance gaps are escalated quickly and tracked through resolution with independent judgement

Contributes to organized, scalable operational processes across departments.

Builds strong working relationships with cross-functional teams and external partners.

4. Team Expectations

Demonstrates strong organization and attention to detail.

Operates autonomously with minimal supervision and proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

Communicates clearly and professionally across teams.

Maintains accountability and consistency in execution.

Balances and independently prioritize multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

5. Qualifications

Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience in apparel, product operations, sourcing, quality, or compliance.

2+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, compliance, quality, or related operational support roles preferred.

Strong analytical and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Experience with PLM systems, Adobe Illustrator, product data management, and reporting tools preferred.

6. Physical Requirement

This role may occasionally require lifting and handling product samples, materials, or boxes (typically up to 25 lbs.).

Requirements