Apparel Product Developer

About Zelus

Zelus is Nike Inc.’s exclusive global licensee for teamwear apparel and equipment, serving athletes and teams from grassroots to elite level across football, rugby, basketball, athletics, hockey, and more. Based in Hilversum, we bring together creative, passionate people to deliver high‑quality product for teams around the world — with a Swoosh on every kit.

The role

As a Product Developer, you will lead the development of asset or team-specific products, ensuring their successful commercialisation and production. You will manage the end-to-end development process for assigned styles, balancing timelines, quality, sustainability, and profitability goals. Working closely with Design, Product Management, Materials, and Manufacturing teams, you will play a pivotal role in translating design concepts into market-ready products while maintaining high standards of quality and performance.

This role is based in our Altrincham office, with a hybrid working pattern of three days in the office (Monday to Wednesday) and two days working remotely (Thursday and Friday). Occasional travel to our Netherlands office will be required.

What you’ll do

• Handle assigned style count from Brief to Buy Ready according to critical dates, product specifications including silhouette and graphic elements, sustainability, quality and performance
• Engage in concept work and Design reviews and give a strong opinion on design achievability through a quality, manufacturability, and cost lens. As well as input of factory capabilities
• Create, revise and maintain documentation for assigned styles including product specs, BOMs, and trackers
• Pre-cost applicable styles to ensure target FOBs are being hit, work with factories and vendors through the development process to ensure best cost is achieved
• You will facilitate and track sampling; identify and mitigate key issues and challenges from concept through development, and lead fit sessions and product/strike off review meetings
• Monitor and communicate progress and challenges throughout the production creation process with your development team and cross-functional partners
• Maintain developer tools and logs so that status is up to date, and to enable accurate reporting to leadership.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor's degree in apparel design/development, pattern making, textile science or related field
• 2+ years product development experience in the apparel industry, which includes the apparel development process from inception through production (pattern making, grading, construction, materials, costing, manufacturing and quality). 2 years additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Knowledge of graphic applications including but not limited to sublimation printing, screen printing, embroidery, heat transfers, and woven patches
• Experience interpreting design intent, offering alternative solutions, and acting as a technical resource
• Experience using Adobe Illustrator & MS Office programs. Previous experience with Centric PLM highly desired
• Experience working with factories and vendors to ensure and improve manufacturability
• Ability to manage multiple projects, to multitask, and manage a varied workload
• Strong problem solving, accuracy, organisational, calendar, process, and communication skills
• Range of soft skills including but not limited to influencing and decision making, proactive/works on own initiative, and comfortable with change and ambiguity
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively in a diverse group
• Previous Teamsport and/or Licensed experience highly desired
• Fluency in English (verbal and written); additional languages are a plus

Why join Zelus?

At Zelus, you’ll have the opportunity to lead with impact, work closely with a globally recognised sports brand partner, and help shape how teamwear product comes to life for athletes worldwide. We offer a collaborative, inclusive culture, strong benefits, and real opportunities for professional growth.

Zelus is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all its forms.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

Please note : Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.