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Head of Apparel @Nimbl&NikeCycling

Pon.Bike

Amsterdam
Full-time
10+ years experience
On-site

Key Skills

Apparel development
Product management
Product strategy
Fabric engineering
Stage-gate management
Technical apparel
Cycling ergonomics
Supply chain management
Team leadership
Performance sportswear
Strategic planning
Cross-functional collaboration
Commercial viability
Aerodynamic design
Project management

Job Description

About nimbl & Nike Cycling

Nimbl: The standard for performance cycling footwear and apparel
Nimbl is a high-performance cycling brand committed to maintaining the highest quality standards while preserving Italian craftsmanship and driving innovation. Known for its handcrafted shoes worn by WorldTour athletes, Nimbl helps cyclists optimize power transfer without compromising comfort and style. With its expansion into apparel, Nimbl offers a system built to elevate performance, watt after watt.  

Nike Cycling: A new era of performance, Born from heritage
NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. Born from a unique partnership between Nike and Pon.Bike, the world’s leading premium bicycle group, Nike Cycling combines legendary brand soul with world-class technical expertise. We are building a high-performance ecosystem that bridges the gap between the athlete and the bike. We are looking for the tastemakers, the risk-takers, and the "glue players" who are ready to build a global powerhouse from the ground up.  

About Pon

Pon is a global company with over 110 businesses in 34 countries, focused on mobility and key trends like urbanization, electrification, sustainability, and digitalization. It represents major automotive brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, and Porsche, and is active in the cycling industry with more than 15 premium bike brands, including Cervélo, Cannondale, Gazelle, and Santa Cruz. Pon emphasizes respect, long-term partnerships, and meaningful contributions to both employees and society. 

Who we’re looking for
We are looking for a process-driven product strategist with a passion for pinnacle sport. You understand the art of true craftsmanship in design and premium finishing, paired with an athlete mindset and operational discipline. You master the balance between WorldTour "PRO-issue" demands and commercial consumer viability. You understand time-to-market critical paths (Stage-Gate management) and possess the strategic mindset to execute trickle-down product strategies, adapting Nimbl’s high-end aerodynamic fabrications into accessible, high-margin commercial components for Nike Cycling and other brands within Pon.Bike.



What You Bring

  • Apparel Leadership: 8+ years of technical apparel development and product management experience in performance cycling, premium sportswear, or outdoor industries, with 3+ years in direct team management.

  • Product Strategy & System Thinking: Demonstrated ability to build multi-year product roadmaps across D2C, Wholesale, and Team Replica channels.

  • Trickle-Down Sourcing Mastery: Expertise in fabric engineering and sourcing. You know how to take proprietary tech from $500 Pro-suits and adapt the "source code" into commercially viable $150 jerseys without sacrificing brand DNA.

  • Enterprise Thinking: Experience navigating complex global organizations (like Nike/Pon.Bike) while maintaining the agility of a premium cycling venture. 

  • Stage-Gate Process Rigor: Deep understanding of critical path management (from 3D scan and wind-tunnel testing to TechPack approval, factory allocation, and PO issuance).

  • Cross-Functional Synergies: Strong collaborative mindset to leverage Pon.Bike group scale, shared logistics, and vendor networks.  

  • Cycling & Athlete DNA: Deep empathy for the WorldTour peloton, understanding how minor details in chamois placement, seam bonding, or aerodynamics create winning margins.

  • Thrives in a fast-growing and innovative organization.

  • An energetic and positive attitude.

  • Deep understanding of cycling-specific ergonomics and the performance requirements for high-end road, MTB, and gravel apparel.

  • Languages: Professional English is required. Dutch and/or Italian is a plus.


What We Offer

  • A hands-on role in a fast-growing premium cycling brand.

  • A collaborative and passionate international team culture.

  • Employee discounts and involvement in exciting product launches.

  • Dynamic environment, with potential for growth.

  • The position includes a market-based salary.

Core Responsibilities

You will lead the apparel strategy for Nimbl and Nike Cycling, managing the product lifecycle from design to commercialization. This involves balancing high-performance WorldTour requirements with scalable, high-margin commercial product roadmaps.

Requirements

The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in technical apparel development and product management, with a strong background in fabric engineering. You must possess deep expertise in cycling-specific ergonomics and the ability to navigate complex global organizational structures.

Benefits

  • Employee discounts
  • Involvement in product launches
  • Market-based salary

About Pon.Bike

Industry: International Trade and Development

Company size: 5,001-10,000 employees

Volkswagen, Lease a Bike, Audi, Gazelle, Greenwheels en Check. Inderdaad, bekende merken. Maar wist je ook dat ze bij Pon horen? Pon is een van Nederlands grootste familiebedrijven en een internationale handels- en serviceorganisatie op het gebied van mobiliteit. Wereldwijd werken bij Pon 10.000 collega's verspreid over ruim 80 bedrijven op zes continenten. De mensen van Pon vormen het DNA van ons bedrijf. Onze mensen hebben de passie hebben om te presteren, krijgen ons vertrouwen en vrijheid. Plezier hebben in het werk is bij ons heel belangrijk, net als het nemen van de verantwoordelijkheid voor de manier waarop jij je werk uitvoert. Dat is ook de manier waarop we iedere dag met elkaar en met onze klanten en leveranciers omgaan.

Added 1 months ago