Head of Apparel Product Development

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About ChicknLegs

ChicknLegs is on a mission to bring fun and crazy moments to athletes everywhere.

We're the fastest-growing running brand in America — and have been featured in the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America the past two years!

You can find our products at ChicknLegs.com, where we ship worldwide, in 1,000+ retailers nationwide, and in select retail stores abroad.

ChicknLegs values:

✔ FAST: Decide today, fix tomorrow
✔ FUN: Take work seriously, not ourselves
✔ SCRAPPY: Do more with less
✔ COMMUNITY: We run together
✔ NO EGO: Best idea wins
✔ SAY YES: Down for anything

The Role

We're looking for an experienced, hands-on Head of Apparel Product Development to lead and scale our growing product team. You'll oversee the development of performance athletic apparel from concept through production, ensuring exceptional quality, functionality, and value.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, proven team leadership, and experience scaling an apparel business. You'll drive product innovation, strengthen manufacturing partnerships, and build the processes and capabilities needed to support our continued growth.

This is a builder role, not a maintenance role.

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What You'll Do

Lead Apparel Product Development

• Own the end-to-end development of performance running apparel, from initial concept through production readiness.
• Oversee technical design, fit, construction, fabric selection, testing, and product quality.
• Lead the development of new products and improvements to existing styles, balancing performance, innovation, cost, and customer needs.
• Establish and maintain technical specifications, fit standards, quality expectations, and product development documentation.
• Remain actively involved in technical problem-solving, sample evaluations, and critical product decisions.

Build + Lead the Team

• Lead, mentor, and develop a growing team of apparel designers and product development professionals.
• Establish clear responsibilities, workflows, and accountability across the product development function.
• Identify talent needs, support hiring, and build the capabilities required for continued growth.
• Foster a collaborative, creative, and high-performing team culture.
• Balance hands-on execution with coaching, delegation, and long-term team development.

Drive Product Innovation

• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, functionality, comfort, and durability.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, performance textiles, construction techniques, and manufacturing innovations.
• Partner with leadership to explore new product categories and expand our athletic apparel assortment.
• Translate customer feedback, athlete insights, and market trends into meaningful product improvements.
• Ensure innovation supports ChicknLegs' brand identity, customer expectations, and commercial goals.

Scale Product Development Operations

• Develop and execute a long-term product development strategy that supports business growth, product innovation, and expansion into new apparel categories.
• Build and continuously improve product development processes, systems, and standards.
• Own development calendars, milestones, and cross-functional readiness for product launches.
• Establish clear processes for sampling, approvals, technical documentation, and production handoffs.
• Identify bottlenecks, reduce development delays, and improve speed to market.
• Develop and monitor KPIs related to product quality, development timelines, sample approvals, and launch readiness.

Manage Manufacturing + Quality

• Build strong working relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners.
• Oversee technical communication, sample development, material approvals, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Partner with Supply Chain to improve product costing, quality, production readiness, and vendor performance.
• Establish consistent fit, construction, and quality standards across products and manufacturers.
• Troubleshoot complex development and manufacturing challenges.

Partner Across the Business

• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Operations to align product development with business priorities.
• Partner with leadership to evaluate new product opportunities, balancing customer demand, technical feasibility, development costs, and commercial potential.
• Support assortment planning, product launches, and new category development.
• Balance design innovation with target costs, margins, production capabilities, and customer demand.
• Provide leadership with clear visibility into product development progress, risks, and opportunities.

Ideal Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in apparel product development
• Significant hands-on experience in athletic apparel, activewear, or performance sportswear.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams or product development functions.
• Demonstrated experience scaling an apparel product development function, including building teams, improving processes, expanding product assortments, and supporting business growth.
• Deep technical knowledge of performance fabrics, garment construction, fit, technical design, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience managing the product development lifecycle from concept through production.
• Proven ability to build and improve product development processes, systems, and workflows.
• Strong experience working directly with overseas factories, vendors, and manufacturing partners.
• Understanding of apparel costing, margins, production lead times, and commercial product considerations.
• Experience managing multiple product categories, seasonal calendars, and competing development priorities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• A hands-on, resourceful approach to solving problems and getting things done.
• Experience developing technical running apparel, including shorts, tops, and performance accessories.
• Experience scaling an emerging or high-growth athletic apparel brand.
• Experience expanding an established apparel brand into new product categories.
• Background in both technical design and product development leadership.
• Experience developing products for wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Established relationships with performance textile suppliers and apparel manufacturers.
• Experience implementing product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
• A genuine passion for running, endurance sports, or athletic performance.
• ChicknLegs super fan — duh.

If you don’t meet every single qualification but are excited about this role, we still encourage you to apply.

Culture + Personality

✔ You're a builder
✔ You're a technical expert
✔ You're a hands-on leader
✔ You're a people developer
✔ You're commercially-minded
✔ You're resourceful
✔ You're collaborative
✔ You're customer-obsessed
✔ You bring positive energy
✔ You're low ego + high accountability
✔ You love running
✔ You understand that running apparel can be technical and serious... but ChicknLegs absolutely does not have to be

Benefits + Perks

✔ Competitive salary
✔ Medical, dental, and vision benefits
✔ Paid time off: vacation, sick time, and holidays
✔ Paid parental leave
✔ Simple IRA with match
✔ Educational assistance plan
✔ Flexible schedule
✔ Free snacks and bevvies to keep you going
✔ Opportunities for professional growth and development
✔ Company events, team outings, and culture initiatives
✔ A supportive, people-first work environment

Equal opportunity Employer