Senior Manager Apparel Technical Design, Local Creation

Nike • Beaverton, OR

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Manager, Apparel Technical Design to join the North America Local Creation Apparel team. This role combines people leadership with technical product creation ownership, requiring a leader who can both coach and contribute directly to the product development process. The ideal candidate is an experienced apparel technical design and development professional with a proven ability to lead teams, drive product excellence, and guide end-to-end apparel creation from concept through commercialization. They bring strong leadership capabilities, a collaborative mindset, positive influence, and a passion for developing talent while delivering best-in-class product. As a Senior Manager, Apparel Technical Design, you will lead the execution of technical development strategies and partner cross-functionally to drive alignment on best practices, digital product creation, and process excellence. You will guide and mentor a team of Technical Designers, providing technical expertise, removing obstacles, and ensuring successful execution across the product creation process. You will oversee development calendars, manage critical milestones, and lead the resolution of changes, risks, and exceptions to keep projects on track. In addition to supporting your team, you will maintain ownership of a product workload, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic priorities. A typical week includes leading team meetings, coaching and developing direct reports, collaborating with cross-functional partners, and providing clear communication through key development checkpoints. You will play a critical role in design reviews, prototype evaluations, fit sessions, and commercialization readiness, ensuring product quality, technical integrity, and executional excellence. This role requires a proactive problem solver who thrives in a fast-paced environment, effectively manages competing priorities, resolves bottlenecks, and drives teams toward successful outcomes. As a people leader, you will foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, diversity, accountability, and continuous growth across the team and broader apparel organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Pattern Making, Textile Science or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
• A minimum of 10 years directly relevant work experience
• 3+ years of People Leadership experience.
• Deep knowledge of the apparel development process, including pattern making, grading, garment construction, costing, manufacturing, materials, print applications, embroidery techniques, and production machinery.
• Proven ability to serve as a technical expert while leading teams and driving initiatives through positive influence and strong leadership.
• Experience managing seasonal development calendars, team workload, sampling strategies, budgets, and risk mitigation for commercial product collections.
• Hands-on experience working with both domestic and international manufacturers and suppliers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, with strong attention to detail and process discipline.
• Proven ability to lead, collaborate, and influence across functions and organizational levels.
• Experience developing, coaching, and managing teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and working knowledge of CLO, Browzwear, Lotta, or other 3D apparel development platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of technical development strategies.
• Partner cross-functionally to drive alignment on best practices, digital product creation, and process excellence.
• Guide and mentor a team of Technical Designers, providing technical expertise, removing obstacles, and ensuring successful execution across the product creation process.
• Oversee development calendars, manage critical milestones, and lead the resolution of changes, risks, and exceptions to keep projects on track.
• Maintain ownership of a product workload, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic priorities.
• Lead team meetings, coach and develop direct reports, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and provide clear communication through key development checkpoints.
• Play a critical role in design reviews, prototype evaluations, fit sessions, and commercialization readiness, ensuring product quality, technical integrity, and executional excellence.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, diversity, accountability, and continuous growth across the team and broader apparel organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior