Associate Manager, Product Development – Sportswear

About the position True Religion is an urban casual lifestyle brand focused on high-quality denim, activewear, accessories, and more—for men, women, and kids. Founded in 2002, we shook up the Los Angeles denim scene by re-engineering the classic five-pocket jean with our signature Super T Stitch and iconic horseshoe detailing—now synonymous with bold, unapologetic style and the True Religion legacy. Driven by a relentless commitment to craftsmanship, we design with one goal in mind: to stand out from the crowd. We don’t just create denim—we give it attitude, authenticity, and individuality. The Associate Manager, Product Development – Sportswear Chase/SMU plays an essential role in keeping True Religion's development process moving with accuracy and intention. Working closely with the Product Development Manager and a wide cross-functional team, this person is responsible for the day-to-day coordination that turns design concepts into production-ready product—tracking milestones, managing vendor communication, driving approvals, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. It's a role that requires both sharp organizational instincts and genuine care for the craft, and the right candidate will find real ownership and growth opportunity here. Responsibilities • Support end-to-end product development execution for the Sportswear 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 the team in identifying 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. Requirements • 3–5 years of experience in product development, sourcing, or production within the apparel or related consumer goods industry • Working knowledge of garment construction, fabric properties, costing fundamentals, and product development cycle timelines • Demonstrated experience managing sample tracking, approval workflows, and development milestones against a seasonal calendar • Experience communicating and coordinating with overseas vendors across multiple time zones • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability 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 Nice-to-haves • Experience working with sportswear or activewear categories, with familiarity in fabric printing and surface applications • Exposure to sourcing strategy or vendor development conversations, even in a supporting capacity • Experience with Full Circle or other apparel PLM systems • Background working cross-functionally in a branded lifestyle or fashion environment Benefits • We offer a mix of benefits and perks to support our employees at work and beyond, including health benefits, a 401(k) with employer match, merchandise discounts, commuter benefits, wellness & employee assistance programs, and more.