Sourcing & Product Development Assistant

Who We Are:

RuffleButts RuggedButts is a digitally native premium childrens apparel company founded in 2007 with a ruffle bloomer that has now grown to a full assortment of premium childrens apparel. Known for lasting quality playful prints and family-matching collections for the special moments of childhood RuffleButts has quickly grown to annual revenue exceeding $40M. Our products can be found online at Amazon select premium retailers such as Nordstrom Neiman Marcus and hundreds of specialty retail locations around the globe. RuffleButts has been a Summit Park holding since 2020.

What Were Looking For:

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Sourcing & Product Development Assistant to support our end-to-end product lifecycle from vendor sourcing to final product delivery. This role provides critical administrative and operational support to the Sourcing and Production Director to help ensure that products meet quality standards are delivered on time and align with target costs. Ideal candidates are proactive highly organized and passionate about the apparel industry and global supply chain.

To Summarize You Will:

• Assist in identifying and communicating with domestic and international suppliers for apparel manufacturing.
• Support the vendor onboarding process and maintain up-to-date supplier records.
• Request quotes and collect cost information for sourcing comparisons and vendor selection.
• Organize and track development samples.
• Help coordinate fabric testing and compliance documentation for garments.

Product Development Support:

• Assist in the coordination of product development timelines and calendars.
• Support with sourcing materials suppliers and vendors.
• Liaise with internal teams (e.g. design production and quality assurance)
• Help ensure product development milestones and deadlines are met
• Perform general administrative support for the product development team

Sourcing Support:

• Assist in identifying and communicating with domestic and international suppliers for apparel manufacturing.
• Support the vendor onboarding process and maintain up-to-date supplier records.
• Request quotes and collect cost information for sourcing comparisons and vendor selection.
• Organize and track development samples.
• Help coordinate fabric testing and compliance documentation for garments.

Production Support:

• Track purchase orders delivery schedules and production milestones to ensure timely deliveries.
• Monitor and update the production calendar highlighting delays or issues to relevant stakeholders.
• Communicate daily with vendors regarding approvals timelines and production progress.
• Assist with quality control processes including inspection coordination and issue reporting.
• Help maintain accurate records of shipments and logistics documentation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with design merchandising tech design and logistics to ensure all product specs and approvals are in place before production.
• Help facilitate communication between internal teams and vendors to resolve development and production issues.
• Support fittings sample reviews and pre-production meetings as needed.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Knowledge of garment construction textiles and factory processes.
• Understanding of costing MOQ and margin analysis.
• Experience working with overseas vendors and understanding of import logistics.
• Familiarity with sustainability and ethical sourcing standards

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Fashion Merchandising Supply Chain Business or a related field.
• 1 year of experience in sourcing production or product development (internships will be considered).
• Familiarity with apparel development and production timelines.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.
• Clear and professional communication skills (verbal and written).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel); experience with PLM or ERP systems is a plus.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment.

Whats in it for You:

For the right candidate we are willing to offer competitive base compensation paid vacation / holidays health and dental benefits 401k match casual work environment and the potential for rapid growth / responsibility within our company.