Product Developer Apparel (Future City Concept)

This role manages the product development process for assigned styles from seasonal kick off through to commercialisation. It collaborates with internal teams and suppliers to ensure an effective transition from brief and design through to development 'buy-ready' commercialisation, on time, within agreed margin parameters and to required quality standards. The position sits within Product Development & Operations and works closely with Design, Marketing, Brand Operations, T1 merchandising and patternmaking, and LO/OC merchandising, technical services and costing.

• 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; and 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 it where quality or cost can be improved without sacrificing product aesthetics.
• Ensure 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 and size specification, approval of colour, accessories and materials; and 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.
• Review size sets for accuracy of measurements and merchantability of the complete size range, including logo placement and fit, if required; LO/OC to approve size sets not requested or 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 the market or supply chain in areas such as garment construction, pattern and fit, embellishment and trims; work cross-functionally with BOPS teams, aIT, Sourcing and T1/T2 to implement it into product creation.

• College or University degree in clothing technology and/or manufacturing or comparable education.
• Minimum 2-3 years of work experience in the garment/textile industry.
• 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, and 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.

The company believes that embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its culture and talent processes gives employees a sense of belonging and the brand a competitive advantage.