Apparel Development Manager

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

adidas is hiring an Apparel Development Manager in Portland, OR, a full-time hybrid role with two teams, MLS apparel and US Sports, guiding products from concept to buy-ready. You’ll partner with Design, Marketing, Sourcing and Manufacturing to meet target price, quality and schedules, manage handovers and T1 data, and ensure compliance and testing. MLS emphasizes garment embellishments and trim placement with CLO 3D a plus; US Sports focuses on football uniforms, wear-testing, and cross-functional collaboration. Requirements include a college degree in clothing technology or manufacturing and at least four years in the garment industry. Apply with concrete examples of cost negotiation, prototypes, and cross-functional impact; you may be considered for either team.

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

Responsible for managing the product development process for assigned styles from seasonal kick off through to commercialization. They collaborate with internal teams and suppliers to provide effective transition from brief/design through to development “buy-ready” commercialisation, on time, within the agreed margin parameter and at the required quality standards.

Please note, there are two (2) roles available for this requisition. Candidates who apply may be considered for either team based on business needs, experience, and interests. 

Team 1: Apparel Development Manager – MLS (Portland, OR)

This role supports the development of Major League Soccer (MLS) apparel, helping bring authentic performance and fan products from concept to market. The team works closely with Design, Product Marketing, Sourcing, and Manufacturing partners to ensure products meet quality, fit, performance, and timeline expectations.The role has a strong focus on garment embellishments and trim placement, requiring an understanding of garment construction, product development processes, and testing standards. Success in this position requires strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Experience with 3D product creation tools, such as CLO 3D, is a plus.

Team 2: Apparel Development Manager – US Sports (Portland, OR)
This role supports the development of American football uniforms and may also contribute to Dugout uniforms and teamwear programs. The team is responsible for delivering high-performance products that meet the demands of athletes while maintaining adidas quality and innovation standards.The position requires strong technical knowledge of garment construction and the ability to work cross-functionally with Design, Product Marketing, Sourcing, Pattern Making, and Testing teams. Candidates who enjoy problem-solving, communication, and collaborating across multiple stakeholders will thrive in this role. Garment testing and wear-testing knowledge is a plus.

Key Responsibilities

· Communicate all necessary information to Marketing, Design, Suppliers and LO/OC to ensure the effective and efficient creation of outstanding product

· Ensure target price and product designs are aligned through predictive costing. Review, validate and approve T1 costing information throughout the entire creation process. Ensure compliance to agreed standards. Negotiate with T1 as needed

· Manage handover from design to T1 to ensure that all information provided to T1 is complete. Manage T1 feedback to design and marketing and incorporate where quality or cost can be improved without sacrificing product aesthetics

· Ensures timely and accurate data entry by T1 regarding AD/BOM, costing or other data as required at calendar milestones

· Evaluate all prototypes for compliance with AD, manage fit approval/size specification, approval of color, accessories and materials. Manage comments to T1

· Ensure that all materials and accessories as well as prototypes are tested and adhere to adidas quality, safety and A01 standards. Manage quality exceptions with senior management as needed

· If required, review size sets for accuracy of measurements and merchantability of complete size range including logo placement and fit. (LO/OC to approve size sets not requested/approved by CC after buy ready release)

· Review and sign off sealing sample with complete AD including all related documents prior to buy ready dates. Ensure full conformity to published policies to ensure a final legal AD for final product

· Research innovation from market or supply chain as far as garment construction, pattern/fit, embellishment, trims. Work cross functionally with marketing and Design teams, Quality and Testing, Sourcing and T1/T2 to implement into product creation

Key Relationships

· Design

· Marketing

· PD&S (Materials, Costing, Pattern and Testing and Quality)

· T1 / T2-Merchandising, Costing and Pattern

· LO/OC Merchandising, costing, Testing and Quality

· Global Supply Planning

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

· Knowledge of material construction and related testing

· Knowledge of wear and physical product testing

· Knowledge of production garment construction and manufacturing

· Ability to fit a garment and comment to T1 on changes required

· Knowledge of costing and ability to negotiate as required

· Effective communication and negotiation skills

· Understanding of the respective vision and strategy for the brands. Ability to communicate to LO/OC/T1 the vision and strategy as well as success criteria needed from sourcing and T1 teams

· Fluent in English (written and spoken)

· Strong IT skills (MS Office) and ability to work with Product Data Management Systems

· Domestic and International Travel as required

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

· College or University degree in clothing technology and/or manufacturing or comparable education

· Minimum 4 years of work experience in garment/textile industry

• adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. The working location of this position is Portland, Oregon.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.