The Associate Manager of Product Development is responsible for supporting product ideation and execution strategies aligned with production goals while ensuring product availability, vendor engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.
About the RoleIn this role, you are accountable for supporting the ideation, development, implementation and execution of the Gap Inc production and vendor capability strategy, delivering value through effectively balancing innovation, quality, and cost. You will be able to operate in a highly matrixed global organization, forming part of the cross functional product team (Design, Merchandising, Tech Design, Quality Assurance, Sustainability, Fabric Research and Development and Global Sourcing). You will be able to execute with strong attention to detail to ensure the product pipeline meets key milestones to meet product to market (P2M) demands.What You'll Do
- Execute category-level product development strategies that align with production strategies and divisional goals, ensuring product availability for both seasonal and fast pipelines.
- Create and manage seasonal strategies to limit exposure to buying fabrics prior to line adoption, optimizing flexibility and financial outcomes.
- Build responsive, data-informed development timelines to support speed-to-market strategies while maintaining quality and cost integrity.
- Execute a vendor engagement strategy across divisions and categories, leveraging vendor capabilities to support innovation, cost targets, and capacity needs.
- Drive clear and consistent communication between brand teams and Asia-based product teams to ensure strategic alignment, timely execution, and operational responsiveness.
- Understand product development implications on merchandising and design-driven decisions, applying category, fabric, and vendor nuances to guide optimal outcomes.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure financial targets are met by delivering costing guidance, explaining cost trade-offs, and supporting margin objectives.
- Manage and maintain BOM accuracy within the PLM system to ensure seamless product execution from development through production.
- Clearly explain fabric choices, production techniques, sustainability considerations, and cost limitations to cross-functional partners to support informed decision-making and AUC integrity.
- Proactively facilitate cross-functional collaboration to identify and mitigate risks related to cost, capacity, timing, and quality for optimal results.
- Communicate compelling, data-driven recommendations that consider cross-functional priorities and influence decision-making beyond direct ownership.
- A strategic and analytical thinker who can develop and apply processes to optimize post–Line Adoption execution.
- Adaptable and solutions-oriented, able to shift priorities in response to customer needs, business partners, and evolving market conditions.
- A strong cross-functional collaborator who understands how to balance design vision, merchandising strategy, production realities, and financial targets.
- A subject-matter expert on product and vendor capabilities, providing confidence and clarity to both internal and external partners throughout the product development lifecycle.
Top Skills
Plm Systems
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