Product Manager - Retail Product Lines 3

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in apparel product management, product development, merchandising, or a related consumer-oriented role and demonstrated experience managing complex products with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and moving parts. This individual will work closely with internal cross-functional teams, external league partners, teams, and other stakeholders to create compelling, consumer-relevant apparel products and uniforms.

Job Title: Product Manager Retail Product Lines 3
Location: WHQ / PHK, Beaverton, OR
Contract Duration: Approximately 4 months

Position Overview: Our client is seeking an experienced Product Manager / Product Line Manager to support the WNBA Apparel product creation team. This role will be responsible for managing the product creation process from initial strategy and briefing through final product delivery.
The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in apparel product management, product development, merchandising, or a related consumer-oriented role and demonstrated experience managing complex products with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and moving parts.
This individual will work closely with internal cross-functional teams, external league partners, teams, and other stakeholders to create compelling, consumer-relevant apparel products and uniforms.
Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end product creation process for WNBA apparel and uniform products.
• Partner with Product Management, Global Design, Materials, Technical Development, Product Creation, Merchandising, Consumer Insights, Finance, Sourcing, Costing, and Planning teams.
• Work with external NBA/WNBA league partners and teams to understand product needs and requirements.
• Help develop and execute product strategies aligned with consumer, marketplace, and business needs.
• Own key product management gates, milestones, and deadlines throughout the product creation process.
• Brief and collaborate with design and product creation partners to develop product concepts.
• Present product concepts and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead meetings and discussions with external partners and confidently navigate challenging conversations.
• Coordinate multiple workstreams and stakeholders while maintaining strong organization and attention to detail.
• Lead cross-functional teams through the product creation process, identifying issues and driving solutions.
• Influence and guide diverse groups of stakeholders toward successful product outcomes.
• Support the development of high-quality, consumer-relevant products that align with brand and business objectives.
• Monitor product performance, consumer needs, marketplace trends, and relevant sport/lifestyle trends.
• Ensure key deliverables are completed on time and meet quality expectations.
• Support revenue and growth objectives through effective product management and execution.
• Travel domestically and internationally on a limited basis, approximately 10%.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in business, Product Development, Sports Product Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in Product Management, Product Development, Merchandising, or a similar consumer-oriented role.
• Strong experience working with apparel products.
• Experience managing complex products with multiple stakeholders, processes, and deliverables.
• Strong presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and present to external partners.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership presence with the ability to influence and guide diverse teams.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating within a diverse, cross-functional environment.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and complex product creation environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with WNBA, NBA, basketball, sports apparel, uniforms, or licensed products.
• Previous our client, Jordan, Converse, or other major athletic/sports industry experience.
• Experience with brand collaborations, particularly apparel or footwear collaborations.
• Experience working with complex products such as footwear, uniforms, logos, licensed products, or brand collaborations.
• Experience working directly with league offices, teams, external partners, or accounts.
• Strong understanding of consumer, fashion, lifestyle, sport, color, and style trends.
• Experience managing product strategy and product creation from concept through commercialization.

Required Tools / Technical Skills

• Microsoft Excel
• Smartsheet s
• PowerPoint / Keynote
• Miro or similar visual collaboration tools
• MMX nice to have / bonus