Product Developer

Who are we?

Be a key player in the Zelus squad!

Zelus is a global sportswear brand and Nike Inc.’s exclusive licensee for the design, manufacturing, marketing, promotion, and sale of teamwear apparel and equipment products to serve athletes and teams globally.

At Zelus, our mission is to inspire, connect, and serve every team athlete by adding a ‘Swoosh’ on their teamwear. We work with grassroots teams, educational bodies, and professional clubs in a wide range of sports, including rugby, basketball, track and field, and hockey.

With two core hubs in the UK and Hilversum, Netherlands, and operations across the US, Europe, and APAC, Zelus is a fast-growing international company built on a foundation of creative, dynamic individuals working across more than 10 countries globally.

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.

Who will you work with?

You will report to the Product Development Manager and collaborate with Design, Product Management, Materials, Trims, Colour, and Manufacturing teams. This role requires frequent communication with cross-functional partners, including factories and vendors.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a detail-oriented and innovative individual with a strong background in apparel development. You should have excellent technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a collaborative mindset. Experience in licensed products or Teamsport apparel development will be highly advantageous.

What am I going to be responsible for?

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 POV 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 will you 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.

What’s in it for you?

Zelus offers a generous total rewards package, excellent benefits (including discounts), a casual work environment, and an inclusive and super-friendly team. You will have the opportunity to grow in a supportive atmosphere that prioritizes professional development.

Zelus is an equal opportunity employer and we pride ourselves on the diversity of our people. We welcome you and everything that makes you, you. That includes your gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, or disability status.