Sr. Manager, Apparel Product Development

Varsity Brands•Portland, OR

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Product Development is responsible for leading the execution of product development strategies for custom sports uniforms and apparel from client intake through commercialization and production readiness. This role oversees a team of development professionals while ensuring alignment with adidas brand standards, client requirements, development timelines, cost objectives, quality expectations, and manufacturing capabilities. The Senior Manager serves as the primary Product Development liaison for assigned adidas business areas, partnering closely with adidas stakeholders and internal Technical Design, Pattern, Artwork, Costing, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams. This role drives cross-functional alignment, process improvement, team development, and executional excellence while supporting the continued growth and scalability of the Custom Outfitters development organization. The Senior Manager manages a portfolio of custom uniform development programs and is accountable for ensuring projects are delivered on time, within established cost and margin expectations, and in accordance with adidas quality and performance standards. This position provides operational leadership, resolves development escalations, and makes recommendations regarding resources, processes, capacity, and organizational needs.

Requirements

Advanced knowledge of apparel product development processes from client intake and concept translation through commercialization and production readiness.
Strong knowledge of custom sports uniforms, technical apparel, garment construction, fit, fabrics, trims, decoration methods, costing, manufacturing processes, and production requirements.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.
Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple complex development programs simultaneously.
Demonstrated ability to manage strategic client or brand relationships, communicate with complex external stakeholders, and drive cross-functional alignment without direct authority.
Strong business acumen with knowledge of cost management, margin analysis, budgeting, productivity measurement, forecasting, and commercialization processes.
Ability to translate client requirements into executable product development plans, technical deliverables, resource priorities, and operational actions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PLM systems, project management and workflow tools; ClickUp experience preferred.
Familiarity with major global brand standards, structured client approval processes, and strategic account development programs preferred.
Demonstrated ability to use operational data to identify risks, improve processes, and scale development capabilities.
Bachelor's degree in Fashion, Product Development, Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
7+ years of apparel development, product development, technical apparel, manufacturing, or related experience.
3+ years of people leadership experience with responsibility for coaching, performance management, and employee development.
Experience managing complex, high-volume product development programs for major brands, strategic clients, or licensed partners.
Experience in custom sports uniforms, team sports apparel, or technical performance apparel preferred.
Experience with financial planning, cost management, forecasting, and operational performance reporting.
Experience working with manufacturing or supply chain operations in Central or North America preferred; experience with PLM, OMS, AS400, and project management systems preferred.

Nice To Haves

ClickUp experience preferred.
Familiarity with major global brand standards, structured client approval processes, and strategic account development programs preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency preferred.
Experience working with manufacturing or supply chain operations in Central or North America preferred; experience with PLM, OMS, AS400, and project management systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the execution of custom sports uniform and apparel development across assigned adidas accounts, programs, and product categories.
Lead product development planning and execution from client intake and concept translation through sampling, approvals, production readiness, and commercialization, ensuring adherence to key milestones, deliverables, development calendars, and launch timelines.
Manage multiple concurrent development programs, proactively identifying risks and adjusting priorities, timelines, or resources to support business objectives.
Translate adidas requirements into clear development plans, timelines, resource needs, technical specifications, and production deliverables.
Ensure development activities support established cost, margin, quality, performance, and client service targets.
Provide technical leadership and guidance regarding custom sports uniforms, garment construction, fit, materials, decoration methods, manufacturing feasibility, quality, and commercialization best practices.
Drive alignment across Technical Design, Pattern, Artwork, Costing, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, commercial teams, and adidas stakeholders.
Serve as the primary Product Development liaison to assigned adidas stakeholders, ensuring alignment with brand standards, product expectations, development requirements, timelines, and issue resolution.
Partner with internal teams and manufacturing partners to transition approved concepts and prototypes into scalable, cost-efficient production.
Partner with Costing, Finance, commercial leadership, and operational teams to monitor development costs, margin performance, resource requirements, and financial risks.
Build and maintain strong relationships with adidas stakeholders, internal business partners, suppliers, and manufacturing teams.
Establish, maintain, and optimize product development processes, tools, documentation, and best practices to improve efficiency, quality, speed to market, and scalability.
Monitor development performance through KPIs and reporting related to delivery, quality, productivity, cost, capacity, and client service.
Identify product, quality, capacity, and timeline risks and implement mitigation strategies to support successful development and production handoff.
Investigate product and development quality issues, identify root causes, and lead corrective actions in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Ensure products meet adidas quality, performance, compliance, and brand standards through effective collaboration with Quality, Compliance, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.
Drive continuous improvement across workflows, systems, documentation, handoffs, and operational processes supporting Custom Outfitters development.
Use performance data, client feedback, and operational trends to identify opportunities to improve speed, quality, cost, and scalability.
Provide project updates, risk assessments, capacity insights, and business recommendations to Product Development and Custom Outfitters leadership.
Support long-term development planning, resource strategies, workforce planning, and organizational initiatives for assigned adidas programs.
Provide recommendations regarding workload allocation, staffing, process investments, systems, and capabilities needed to support current and future business growth.
Lead, mentor, and develop Product Development team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, client service, and continuous improvement.
Establish clear team priorities and performance expectations aligned with adidas service requirements, development KPIs, quality standards, and business commitments; provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
Support workforce planning, succession planning, hiring recommendations, retention efforts, and talent development initiatives within Product Development.
Serve as the escalation point for adidas product development challenges, helping teams resolve issues efficiently and effectively.