Product Development Lead - Innovation (Apparel)

DSJ Global; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 420,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

DSJ Global is seeking a Senior Product Developer - Sportswear (Apparel) to lead end-to-end development of performance and lifestyle apparel across knit and woven categories. You will collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams to translate concepts into market-ready products.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years of sportswear product development experience, with strong skills in PLM, fabric and materials development, and cross-functional collaboration across Asia.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Fashion, Apparel, Textile Engineering or related discipline.
• 5–7 years of product development experience within sportswear, lifestyle or premium fashion industries with brand experience as desired.
• Experience managing both knit and woven apparel development from concept through production.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with designers, suppliers, sourcing offices, and manufacturing partners across Asia.
• Strong understanding of performance fabrics, functional garment technologies, and apparel innovation.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple development calendars simultaneously.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills within a global matrix environment.
• Proficiency in PLM systems, Microsoft Office, and apparel development tools.
• Fluency of English, Cantonese and good in Mandarin Chinese.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development for men's and women's sportswear apparel across knit and woven categories.
• Partner closely with Design teams to translate concepts into commercially successful products while maintaining design intent and brand vision.
• Develop and manage technical product packages, including garment specifications, BOMs, trims, colorways, and fit requirements.
• Drive fabric, trim, print, wash, and embellishment development with mills and suppliers to meet objectives.
• Manage seasonal development calendars and milestones to ensure sample delivery and commercialization.
• Coordinate prototype, salesman, pre-production, and production sample development to meet quality standards.
• Work with regional sourcing and manufacturing partners to resolve technical, costing, quality, and production challenges.
• Evaluate and implement new materials, technologies, and construction techniques to enhance product functionality and consumer appeal.
• Support product costing initiatives balancing quality, innovation, and margin objectives.
• Ensure all products comply with testing, regulatory, sustainability, and quality requirements.
• Monitor market trends and industry innovations to identify opportunities and drive improvement.

Skills

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

English

Cantonese

Mandarin

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Diploma or degree in Fashion, Apparel, Textile Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Apparel development tools

Fabric/garment tech databases

Job description

Our client is a globally recognized sportswear and lifestyle brand with a strong presence across Asia and international markets. Due to continued business growth and product innovation initiatives, they are seeking an experienced Senior Product Developer - Sportswear (Apparel) to lead the development of performance and lifestyle apparel collections across knit and woven categories.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a product development professional who is passionate about creating innovative sportswear products and collaborating closely with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams. The successful candidate will play a key role in bringing concepts to life, driving product excellence from initial design through commercialization.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development for men's and women's sportswear apparel across knit and woven categories.
• Partner closely with Design teams to translate creative concepts into commercially successful products while maintaining design intent and brand vision.
• Develop and manage technical product packages, including garment specifications, construction details, BOMs, trims, colorways, and fit requirements.
• Drive fabric, trim, print, wash, and embellishment development with mills and suppliers, ensuring innovation, quality, sustainability, and performance objectives are met.
• Manage seasonal development calendars and critical milestones to ensure timely sample delivery and product commercialization.
• Coordinate prototype, salesman, pre-production, and production sample development, ensuring products meet quality, fit, and performance standards.
• Work closely with regional sourcing and manufacturing partners to resolve technical, costing, quality, and production challenges.
• Evaluate and implement new materials, technologies, and construction techniques to enhance product functionality and consumer appeal.
• Support product costing initiatives by balancing quality, innovation, and margin objectives.
• Ensure all products comply with testing, regulatory, sustainability, and quality requirements.
• Monitor market trends, consumer insights, competitor products, and industry innovations to identify product opportunities and drive continuous improvement.

Job Requirements

• Diploma or degree in Fashion, Apparel, Textile Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least with 5-7 years of product development experience within sportswear, lifestyle or premium fashion industries with brand experience as desired.
• Experience managing both knit and woven apparel development from concept through production.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with designers, suppliers, sourcing offices, and manufacturing partners across Asia.
• Strong understanding of performance fabrics, functional garment technologies, and apparel innovation.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple development calendars simultaneously.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills within a global matrix environment.
• Proficiency in PLM systems, Microsoft Office, and apparel development tools.
• Fluency of English, Cantonese and good in Mandarin Chinese.