Temp to Hire- Product Development- Associate Manager

Job Title: Temp to Hire Product Development Associate Manager (Apparel)

Location: Vernon, CA | Contract type: Freelance | Salary: $80K-$90K | Reference:

A well‑known fashion brand is looking for a temp‑to‑hire Product Development Associate Manager.

About the Role

This role will own the full product development process from concept through production handoff, partnering closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Materials, Purchasing, Production, and vendor partners. The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, solutions‑oriented, and able to work autonomously from day one in a fast‑paced, metrics‑driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and drive the full apparel product development lifecycle from concept through production handoff
• Manage development calendars, BOM accuracy, sample tracking, approvals, and milestone execution
• Partner with vendors to ensure on‑time development, quality standards, and lead‑time compliance
• Lead vendor communication, troubleshoot delays, and proactively implement solutions
• Manage costing, negotiate with vendors, and support margin targets through strategic decision‑making
• Maintain accurate ERP, BOM, WIP, and development tracking systems
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Design, Merchandising, Materials, Technical Design, Purchasing, Production, and leadership teams
• Attend fittings, document actionable notes, and ensure timely follow‑up and execution
• Monitor vendor performance metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Support new vendor sourcing, onboarding, and strategic process improvement projects

Qualifications

• 5+ years of product development experience within apparel
• Proven experience owning the full end‑to‑end product development process independently
• Strong understanding of costing, BOMs, development calendars, vendor management, and production timelines
• Experience working in a fast‑paced, high‑volume development environment
• Strong business acumen with the ability to analyze data and derive actionable insights
• Exceptional cross‑functional communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working directly with overseas vendors and factories
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and accountability
• Comfortable operating in a metrics‑driven environment with clear performance expectations

Benefits

See benefits.