Lead, Apparel Designer, NSW, Create, Local Creation NA

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Pahokee (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Sports Jobs Limited seeks a senior apparel designer to lead North America apparel concepts from concept to execution. You will craft narrative-driven, head-to-toe expressions that resonate with NA consumers and partner closely with design, product, and development teams.

The role emphasizes advancing seasonal direction with strong color, materials, and storytelling while collaborating across disciplines to maintain brand heritage and market speed.

Qualifications

• Portfolio is required (website link or PDF).
• Bachelor's degree in apparel design or related field; education/experience mix accepted.
• Advanced digital design on Mac; familiarity with CLO and Vizcom useful.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite; strong presentation and collaboration skills.
• Strong knowledge of fashion, sport, culture, and performance apparel.

Responsibilities

• Drive apparel cut-and-sew design for North America across Nike and Jordan categories.
• Translate seasonal direction and consumer insights into product narratives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to move concepts to execution.
• Ensure alignment with brand heritage while delivering fast, targeted solutions.
• Monitor development and support timely prototype progression.
• Create cohesive head-to-toe expressions with footwear partners when needed.

Skills

Design portfolio

Digital design

AI design tools

Miro

Smartsheet

Communication

Organization

Fashion knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in apparel design

Tools

CLO

Vizcom

Adobe Creative Suite

Mac platforms

Job description

About the Role

This role leads apparel design for North America, building an emotional connection with North American consumers through narrative, product, and storytelling. It reports to the North America Local Creation Senior Apparel Design Manager and partners with Apparel Design, Graphic Design, Footwear, Product Management, Development, and global Colour, Materials, and Graphics teams. The designer shapes compelling apparel across multiple Nike and Jordan categories, from early concept through final execution, creating connected head-to-toe expressions that serve North American consumers with speed and specificity.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive creative design for apparel cut-and-sew products across multiple Nike and Jordan categories in North America.
• Bring seasonal creative direction to life with expertise in colour, materials, trims, and hardware at both the product and collection level.
• Translate seasonal direction, consumer insights, and marketplace trends into product and collection narratives delivered with speed and specificity.
• Use colour, materials, trims, and hardware to create an elevated, consumer-relevant brand point of view while meeting cost targets.
• Partner with apparel, graphic, footwear, product management, development, pattern making, materials, product make, and sample-room teams to move ideas from concept to execution.
• Monitor prototype development, exchange ideas with cross-functional partners, and support the timely completion of each project.
• Collaborate with Footwear partners to create cohesive, head-to-toe footwear and apparel expressions.
• Build alignment across functions, categories, and geographies while delivering North America-led solutions that honour Nike's heritage and move the brand forward.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• A design portfolio is required, provided as a website link or attached Portable Document Format file when applying.
• Bachelor's degree in apparel design or a related field; any suitable combination of education, experience, and training will be accepted.
• Advanced digital design capabilities using Mac platforms, Adobe Creative Suite, two-dimensional sketching, and three-dimensional apparel tools such as CLO.
• Experience with artificial intelligence design tools such as Vizcom.
• Proficiency with Miro, Smartsheet, email, and Outlook.
• Strong visual presentation, communication, organisation, prioritisation, and collaboration skills.
• Strong understanding of fashion, sport, art, culture, streetwear, lifestyle, and performance apparel.
• Ability to communicate design intent with clarity and make informed decisions with speed and agility in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and collaborate across disciplines as a curious, detail-oriented self-starter.
• Ability to elevate diverse perspectives and strengthen an inclusive creative environment.

Preferred Skills

• 5+ years of apparel product design experience, including experience in performance, streetwear, or lifestyle apparel.
• Experience designing for international markets, particularly North America.

The Application Process

Accommodations are available to complete the interview process, including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single-location in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed.