Apparel Product Development Lead (Hybrid)

True Religion; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with employer match

Merchandise discounts

Commuter benefits

Wellness & employee assistance

Job summary

True Religion in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Manager, Product Development – Chase to drive end-to-end apparel development. You will coordinate with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design and vendor partners to keep milestones on track against the go-to-market calendar, ensuring concepts become production-ready products.

This exempt, full-time role requires strong organization, proactive communication across time zones, and ownership of the development process from briefs to approvals.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, or production within apparel.
• Experience in sportswear and/or activewear categories, including familiarity with fabric printing (graphics printing) and surface application.
• Working knowledge of garment construction, fabric properties, cost engineering and negotiations, and product development cycle timelines.
• Demonstrated experience managing sample tracking, WIPs, and development milestones against a seasonal calendar
• Exposure to sourcing strategy or vendor development conversations, even in a supporting capacity
• Experience communicating and coordinating with overseas vendors across multiple time zones
• Highly organized, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; comfortable working within PLM or product development tracking systems
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills across internal teams and external vendor partners

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product development execution for the category, coordinating across Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, and vendor partners to keep milestones on track against the GTM calendar.
• Maintain and update WIP reports and development tracking tools, providing accurate visibility into key milestones, open approvals, and potential bottlenecks—flagging risks to the Product Development Manager before they become issues.
• Manage sample tracking across all stages—preparing initial briefs, coordinating seasonal style communication to vendors, and proactively driving garment and component submits to keep the approval process moving.
• Support material development workflows including lab dips, strike-offs, washes, and samples, ensuring all submits are tracked, communicated, and resolved in alignment with the development calendar.
• Assist in managing the fabric library—digital and physical—ensuring all records are accurate, current, and organized to support development efficiency and quality control.
• Communicate proactively with vendors on development progress, open items, and timelines; participate in vendor meetings and support follow-through on action items and feedback.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support time and action calendar management, helping track internal and external deadlines and escalating conflicts or delays in a timely manner.
• Help monitor and communicate product cost throughout the development pipeline, supporting cost engineering and vendor negotiations and helping the team identify opportunities to hit cost targets without compromising quality or aesthetic intent.
• Assist in executing sourcing strategies and ensuring collections reflect the brand's pricing structure and strategic objectives, in partnership with the Director, Design, Merchandising, Planning, and Production.

Skills

Product development

Sourcing

Vendor management

Excel

PLM systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PLM systems

Job description

True Religion in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Manager, Product Development – Chase to drive end-to-end apparel development. You will coordinate with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design and vendor partners to keep milestones on track against the go-to-market calendar, ensuring concepts become production-ready products.

This exempt, full-time role requires strong organization, proactive communication across time zones, and ownership of the development process from briefs to approvals.