Sr. Apparel Product Developer

Varsity Brands•Farmers Branch, TX

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Apparel Product Developer drives seasonal product development from concept through production readiness and serves as the expert for an assigned category. The role works with internal and external teams—including Merchandising, Sourcing, Planning, Sampling, Quality Assurance, and manufacturing partners—to bring products to successful launch. Responsibilities include managing product lines, executing new-product implementation and distribution, coordinating launch activities, and verifying that quality requirements are met. Projects are expected to be delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards. The position is hybrid and based at 14460 Varsity Brands Way, Farmers Branch, Texas. Relocation assistance is not available, and candidates must be able to work from the designated location without company-sponsored relocation. Work hours are Monday through Friday, either 8 a.m.–5 p.m. or 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with Fridays working from home. The role requires 20% international and domestic travel. The role requires apparel technical expertise in construction, fit, function, and fabrics, as well as extensive knowledge of product development processes. The employee works in a professional office environment, with a mix of sedentary and active work and routine use of standard office equipment.

Requirements

College degree in Fashion, Business Administration, Project Management, or Engineering, or relevant experience.
5–8 years of related product development experience, including design and manufacturing.
Apparel technical expertise in construction, fit, and function.
Knowledge of fabrics, including circular, warp, and woven fabrics.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PLM, and AS400, with an aptitude for learning new programs.
Experience communicating via Microsoft Teams.
Experience with Outlook and PLM systems.
Extensive knowledge of product development processes.
Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
Strong organization skills and the ability to manage critical deadlines, prioritize work and business processes, and multitask.
Ability to communicate openly and honestly in ways that build trust and respect.
Problem-solving ability and exposure to or experience in manufacturing, quality excellence, and strategic thinking.
Ability to listen to internal customers and act professionally.
Flexibility during change and ability to understand business operations and provide quality insight to support goals and business success.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills.
Experience participating in continuous improvement projects and applying lean principles, ideally in apparel manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Work with Merchandise and Category Management teams to understand product vision and direction.
Serve as the expert for the assigned product category and commercialization calendar.
Partner with project managers, internal teams, and manufacturing partners to advance products from prototype to production.
Provide technical knowledge related to products and product categories.
Work with internal and external Costing Teams to develop profitable products.
Analyze product changes with teams and factories when costing misses expectations, and communicate recommended changes to Merchandising.
Understand project timelines with Merchandising and Category Management and meet milestones and deliverables.
Work with design and engineering to transition design prototypes into cost-efficient, high-volume products.
Troubleshoot design, material, and trim details to execute product requirements.
Deliver and communicate technical packages (Tech Packs) to manufacturing partners with Category Management.
Work with supply chain teams to deliver successful, profitable, quality products.
Partner with Product Quality Teams to ensure assigned projects meet Varsity Brands standards.
Work with internal and external testing labs to verify products meet quality parameters for release.
Partner with internal and external Material Developers to develop materials, trims, and fabric.
Monitor new-product status and ensure project execution complies with required policies, procedures, and government regulations.
Monitor product operations and evaluate designs for adherence to design and manufacturing principles.
Recommend improvements to production processes and methods to reduce costs and improve quality.
Analyze design failures and recommend corrective action.
Coordinate with senior management to maintain awareness of product status and prepare reports.