Product Development Manager, Footwear

About Us

American Exchange Group is an industry leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. By facilitating distribution to major retailers internationally for their globally recognized brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brands—including footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, home, and beauty—American Exchange Group raises the bar by disrupting the status quo with value and quality, while staying at the forefront of trends.

Joining American Exchange Group means being part of a dynamic and diverse team where your contributions drive real impact—and where there’s always room to grow. If you're looking to be part of a company that blends heritage with hustle, we’re excited to meet you.

Visit our website at www.axnygroup.com

Job Title: Product Development Manager, Footwear

Location: Onsite 5 days a week at our NYC HQ

Footwear Product Development Manager (Mass Market / Off-Price)

Position Summary

The Footwear Product Development Manager leads the development and commercialization of high-volume, cost-driven footwear programs for mass market and off-price channels. This role is responsible for executing product that meets aggressive price points, rapid timelines, and retailer-specific requirements, while maintaining quality and brand integrity.

Key Responsibilities

High-Volume Product Development

Manage end-to-end development of footwear collections across mass and off-price channels

Execute against fast-paced seasonal and chase calendars with a strong sense of urgency

Drive speed-to-market while maintaining accuracy and quality

Retailer-Focused Execution

Develop product aligned to specific retailer needs (e.g., Walmart, Kohl’s, JCPenney, off-price accounts)

Ensure compliance with retailer systems, packaging, labeling, and routing requirements

Adapt product assortments based on retailer price architecture and target customer

Cost Engineering & Margin Management

Own costing process with a strong focus on hitting aggressive IMU targets

Engineer product to cost—materials, construction, and design simplification

Negotiate with factories to achieve best cost without sacrificing required quality standards

Vendor & Factory Management

Partner closely with overseas factories (primarily Asia) on development and execution

Manage multiple vendors to support capacity, speed, and cost competitiveness

Troubleshoot development and production issues quickly to avoid delays

Calendar & Production Readiness

Maintain and enforce development calendars with clear milestone tracking

Ensure all tech packs, specs, and approvals are production-ready and on time

Partner with Production/Operations to ensure smooth handoff to bulk

Sample & Workflow Management

Oversee high-volume sample tracking for line reviews, buyer meetings, and approvals

Manage revisions efficiently to minimize development cycles

Ensure accurate and timely data entry in PLM/ERP systems

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Design to interpret trends into commercial, cost-effective product

Partner with Sales and Merchandising on line plans, pricing strategy, and retailer presentations

Collaborate with QA and Compliance teams to meet testing and regulatory standards

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Product Development, or related field

5–8+ years of footwear product development experience, preferably in mass market or off-price

Strong understanding of cost-driven product development and high-volume production

Experience working with major retailers (e.g., Walmart Retail Link, Kohl’s DSCO, JCP CommerceHub)

Proven ability to manage multiple seasons and high SKU counts simultaneously

Deep experience with overseas factory communication and negotiation

Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in PLM/ERP systems

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in private label or licensed brands

Background supporting off-price retailers (e.g., TJX, Ross, Burlington)

Familiarity with packaging optimization and freight cost considerations

Experience with chase/reorder business models

What We Offer

Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Tax-free commuter benefits

Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

Salary: The anticipated base salary is $100k-$110k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.

This position description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with this position. While this description is intended to accurately reflect the position's activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. The compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, market data, and business needs.