Senior Manager, Apparel Design, Local Creation GC

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NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

Nike Local Creation GC is one of the fastest product engines at Nike, enabling designers to connect with geo-specific consumers quickly and effectively. Reporting to the Local Creation Design organization, this role focuses on creating inspiring products tailored to specific marketplaces and geographic audiences, capturing fast-moving trends and delivering regionally relevant narratives with flexibility and speed. Local Creation team's mission is to amplify and incubate new ideas while driving and extending consumer favorites, serving local consumers with executions that offer greater relevance and immediacy. We seek a candidate who embodies our values of authenticity, accountability, collaboration, and courage—someone eager to grow, challenge themselves, and act independently as a self-driven contributor.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for a Senior Manager, Apparel Design Local Creation GC to join our dynamic and fast-paced design team. This role will be based in Shanghai, China and will work closely with cross-functional partners across design, product management, development, merchandising and marketing. The ideal candidate is a seasoned creative leader that has diverse experience in the apparel industry who is able to manage a team of designers to drive and execute apparel products within our brands . They will work on creation of apparel products across various GC Consumers Sport & Lifestyle business opportunities and be able to run and execution of multiple categories in a hyper-local lens for our target consumers. This designer has a strong eye for detail, a passion and expertise for premium craft, and the ability to create highly covetable product that connects with the Greater China consumer through authentic local narratives. They can operate independently, drive brand vision and mentor creativity within the team, navigate ambiguity, manage multiple timelines, and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to bring ideas from concept through execution.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This is a people leadership role reporting to the Director, Apparel Design, Local Creation GC. In this role, you will partner closely with cross-functional teammates across the product creation process to deliver innovative and consumer-right product solutions for the Greater China marketplace.

• GC Apparel and Footwear Design teammates across categories

• GC Product Management and Development teams

• GC Merchandising and Marketing partners

• Global Design counterparts and Nike Creative stakeholders

You’ll also engage with external vendors and suppliers to bring your designs to life, ensuring alignment with Nike’s brand standards and regional consumer expectations.

WHAT YOU BRING

Education:

BA/BFA/MA/MFA preferred in Apparel Design or related field, or equivalent combination of education, experience or training.

Experience:

• 8+ years of professional apparel design experience within the apparel and sportswear industry, with deep expertise in apparel materials, functionality, construction, and fit.

• Experience in creative leadership and people management, with a strong understanding of apparel consumer segments and profiles across multiple dimensions, preferably within the Greater China market.

• Comprehensive understanding of Apparel material and make, tech packs, and schematic development in lifestyle and performance apparel products.

• Strong ability to build compelling apparel collections by translating consumer insights into authentic narratives and storytelling. Ability to integrate concepts across color, silhouette, materials, and key looks, while ensuring cohesion within a collection and across brands.

• Ability to lead and drive a clear design vision across categories, collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners and aligning expectations with key stakeholders. Ability to set directions through precise decision making to guide and manage team during design process.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and adhere to timelines among your team.

• Excellent visual and verbal presentation skills.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.

• Proven team player and leadership skills, fostering a positive and inclusive environment to achieve shared creative goals. Ability to drive collaborative mindsets across the design team.

• Sound decision-making abilities and strategic thinking skills.

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D/AI rendering software, and Miro.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As the Senior Manager, Apparel Design, Outerwear Local Creation GC, you will:

• Create apparel products that align with global creative direction, seasonal key concepts, gender strategies, franchise journeys, geo assortments and connect with the GC consumer.

• Manage a team of apparel designers to mentor and drive creativity, build collaborative culture, and drive efficiencies on cross functional communication.

• Working closely with product management and development to drive and manage seasonal new create toolbox setup based on insights, design direction and product intents with appropriate margin target in mind.

• Bring seasonal creative direction to life through market relevant trends and insights on color direction, material function and GC-centric fit and proportion, as well as brand and trend relevant coordination of keylook and outfits. Be able to build layers on range though use of color, define trend level among individual products to drive excitement and depths across range.

• You'll communicate design concepts effectively. In addition, you will collaborate in a fast, speed environment and inject GC relevant trends and solutions to our seasonal products.

• Monitor the development of prototype samples and interact with development to finalize production details, conduct fittings, and ensure execution excellence in multiple categories.

• Partner with Product Management and Development to build trend-driven assortments, communicate design intent, review prototypes, and refine execution.

• Champion storytelling and communicate the “why” behind the work.

• Present concepts clearly to internal teams, leadership, and external partners, effectively communicating the purpose behind design decisions.

• Manage design deliverables and project timelines, planning and executing product details, reviewing samples, resolving feasibility issues, and ensuring timely project completion.

• Demonstrate deep consumer curiosity and strong trend forecasting capabilities, maintaining a strong connection to city culture, emerging trends, and Nike's design ethos.

#MYNEXT: Be Empowered to Grow within Nike and Create the Future

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.