Join Our Team!
Reports to: Senior Director of PD & Sourcing
Experience Level: 2–3 years
Work: Hybrid (3 Days In Office)
About Super Smalls
At Super Smalls, our mission is to create joyful moments and connections that amplify the magic of childhood. We inspire play and encourage self-expression through our elevated, luxury-inspired accessories and crafts, designed to delight both kids and adults. As a craft and toy brand for the new generation, we offer a range of products—from pretend play and dress-up to DIY kits, jewelry, and cold-weather gear—all infused with a playful, fashionable touch. Every detail, including packaging, is crafted to ensure our products create lasting joy.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a highly organized, detail-driven Product Development Associate to join our growing team. In this role, you will play a key part in bringing our products to life—from early development through production—working closely with vendors and cross-functional partners to keep timelines, samples, and product details moving forward. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in maintaining strong organization and accuracy, and is excited to build hands-on experience within the product development process.
Responsibilities
- Communicate with factories and vendors to support product execution from concept through final delivery
- Manage and track development samples, ensuring deadlines, quality standards, and design intent are met
- Maintain a highly organized physical and digital sample library, including development samples, production samples, swatches, and materials
- Review Pre-Production (PP) and Top of Production (TOP) samples against approved specs and flag discrepancies proactively
- Manage and monitor Time and Action milestone calendars to keep development timelines on track - ensuring deadlines are met, issues are escalated, team updates are timely, and opportunities to improve lead times are identified
- Partner closely with Design to ensure timely delivery of technical specifications, revisions, and packaging artwork to vendors
- Work with vendors to negotiate pricing and support costing strategies to ensure targets are met
- Track development-related costs such as sample charges and mold fees with strong attention to detail, and negotiate where necessary
- Maintain and update Product Development WIP charts and trackers with accuracy and consistency
- Work cross-functionally to support timely and accurate Purchase Orders, including gathering product and cost information for SKU setup and PO placement
- Work closely with vendors to ensure all products are tested with in accordance with regulatory requirements, proactively gather and maintain test reports, negotiate testing costs where needed, and identify opportunities to create efficiencies in testing while maintaining all safety standards
- Troubleshoot product quality or technical issues with vendors, supporting resolution of non-compliance or chargeback situations
- Communicate potential delivery risks early and help drive solutions with internal teams and vendors
- Own new product developments with licensors, overseeing timely submission reviews, managing approvals and deadlines, and ensuring all licensed products align with internal quality standards, product integrity, and licensor brand guidelines
- Track and coordinate marketing samples to ensure on-time delivery for photoshoots and key milestones
- Partner with Senior Director of Sourcing on the onboarding of new suppliers
- Perform additional duties as needed to support company operations and team priorities
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 2–3 years of relevant experience in product development, sourcing, and/or production
- Exceptionally organized and detail-driven, with strong discipline in maintaining multiple charts and managing high sample volume, and ensuring accuracy across product details
- Highly execution-focused, with a strong sense of ownership and urgency
- Comfortable managing multiple workstreams, shifting priorities, and tight timelines in a fast-paced environment
- Experience working with licensed brands is a plus
Compensation for the role will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience. The estimated annual compensation for this role is $65,000+ commensurate with experience.
If you meet these criteria and are a product development specialist looking for opportunity & ownership at a fun, fast-growing brand that celebrates play and imagination, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and portfolio to [email protected] with the job title in the subject line.
Reports to: Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer
Work: Hybrid (3 Days In Office)
About Super Smalls
At Super Smalls, our mission is to create joyful moments and connections that amplify the magic of childhood. We inspire play and encourage self-expression through our elevated, luxury-inspired accessories and crafts, designed to delight both kids and adults. As a craft and toy brand for the new generation, we offer a range of products—from pretend play and dress-up to DIY kits, jewelry, and cold-weather gear—all infused with a playful, fashionable touch. Every detail, including packaging, is crafted to ensure our products create lasting joy.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a highly skilled Senior Product Designer to join our innovative team. As the Senior Product Designer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our physical products. We are looking for an individual with a keen eye for design, a deep understanding of materials and manufacturing processes, and a passion for creating exceptional products that resonate with our customers.
Responsibilities
Conceptualization and Design: Manage all end-to-end product design, from initial concept through development and final approval. Ability to conceptualize, collaborate, and design across multiple categories in the kids space (including play, jewelry, dress-up, crafts, and accessories), always fostering imaginative and self-expressive experiences.
Product Assortment Strategy: Collaborate closely with Founder/Chief Creative Officer to bring Super Smalls products to life and create a product assortment that aligns with the brand’s business strategy and goals.
Tech Packs Creation: Create detailed specifications and renderings for product designs to be shared with vendors, ensuring accuracy and feasibility for production.
Product Lifecycle Management: Manage the development process in partnership with Senior Director of Product Development & Sourcing to optimize efficiencies throughout the entire product development calendar across multiple seasons and collections.
Packaging: Create and maintain all packaging designs for the product line, including applying illustrations, photography, and licensed artwork as applicable.
Vendor Communication: Own all design-related direct communication with vendors from spec-out to final proto approval across all developments, in tandem with Senior Director of Product Development & Sourcing.
Lead and Coordinate Cross-Functional Design Efforts: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive storytelling, especially for collaborations and licensing collections, while maintaining brand identity and appeal.
Additional Tasks: Support the CCO and Senior Director of Sourcing & PD with additional projects as needed, contributing to the overall success of the design team.
Qualifications
- NYC-based, able to work in our New York, NY office.
- 8+ years of experience creating kids products.
- Experience managing outside freelance designers and illustrators.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to communicate with vendors to ensure manufacturing quality, timelines, and compliance standards.
- Ability to interpret design intent and offer alternative solutions.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite for Mac: Illustrator & Photoshop required.
- Basic understanding of children’s product safety regulations is a plus.
- Experience working with licensed brands is a plus.
Compensation for the role will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience. The estimated annual compensation for this role is $120,000+ commensurate with experience.
If you meet these criteria and are a talented and passionate Senior Product Designer looking to contribute to a fast-growing brand that celebrates play and imagination, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and portfolio to [email protected] with the job title in the subject line. Join us in crafting the future of play-inspired design!