Manager, Materials Development (Sports Management/Operations)

Manager, Materials Development (Sports Management/Operations)

This job contributes to our success, growth and profitability by leading the Materials Development team to build, implement and manage strategies and tactics to consistently deliver materials to design, performance, quality, margin and timeline expectations. Reporting to the Senior Materials Manager, this position develops strategies to drive materials innovation and deliver a competitive advantage for our company. With Materials Production Manager, this role builds and manages materials supplier base to optimize service levels and profitability, while mitigating risk. Models and acts in accordance with our guiding values and mission.

Leading the Way:

Identifies and communicates key responsibilities and practices to ensure the organization promotes a successful attitude, confidence in leadership, and teamwork to achieve business results.

Supports the implementation of company programs, procedures, methods and practices to promote our key messages.

Challenges and inspires employees to achieve business results.

Ensures employees adhere to legal and operational compliance requirements.

Oversees training and development of employees directly and indirectly managed and makes effective staffing decisions.

Conducts and ensures the completion of performance reviews.

Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to employees in order to achieve department, company and customer results.

Establishes and maintains visibility within the department.

Monitors operational statistics, reports trends, variances and issues, and takes appropriate action.

Manages and prioritizes department capacity and workload.

Responsibilities:

Strategy & Goals

As a member of the Gear and Apparel management team, contributes to the strategic direction and priorities of the division; supports the development and implementation of divisional business strategies.

Develops and executes strategic direction and priorities for Materials Development.

Sets and achieves department goals.

Develops, deploys and manages materials development strategies to consistently deliver to design, quality, cost and service level expectations, while mitigating risk; enrolls business partners in decision-making process and ensures materials development strategy and direction are clearly communicated and socialized.

Creates and manages seasonal materials strategies, processes and timelines to ensure effective and efficient development and commercialization of materials based on business needs; plans for contingencies; proactively collaborates with business partners to achieve objectives.

Ensures materials suppliers' processes and practices are consistent with industry best practice.

Materials Research & Development

With key business partners, creates shared vision for product / materials direction 1-3 years out; builds capacity and process for out-of-season, longer-horizon materials development; develops strategies to consistently drive innovation in materials relative to aesthetic and performance characteristics, aligned with business needs and direction; continually communicates direction, solicits appropriate feedback and adjusts direction as needed.

Actively tracks materials market trends and new technologies, attends trade shows and 'shops' the market for new materials ideas; continually researches and analyzes new materials opportunities and technologies to increase understanding and utilization of materials for competitive advantage.

Oversees seasonal materials trend presentations for Design / Sales and Marketing; oversees internal educational efforts relative to materials and communication of trends and direction.

Aligns with key business partners on seasonal category strategies; effectively positions materials development efforts to support product direction and priorities; ensures materials developments meet design, performance, price, lead-time and quality objectives.

Ensures all materials developments are tested and approved for end use in accordance with seasonal timelines.

With key business partners, sets seasonal timelines; monitors and ensures compliance to timeline milestones.

Provides strategic and tactical materials support for private brand product teams throughout the product development process.

In collaboration with key business partners, uses analysis and business reviews to drive consistency and economies of scale across categories.

Ensures materials library is an effective design / materials development tool; oversees organization and management of materials library.

Ensures PLM system meets the needs of the materials function, and supports accurate, efficient data entry.

Costing

With Materials Production Manager, uses market intelligence to inform materials development and sourcing strategies.

Ensures materials selections / new developments align with product margin expectations.

Vendor Management

Guided by materials sourcing strategy as defined by Materials Production Manager, builds and maintains materials source base to meet materials development needs, while also satisfying production requirements.

Clearly defines, documents and communicates supplier expectations relative to materials development; ensures compliance with all requirements.

Ensures supplier performance meets defined expectations; with Materials Production Manager, develops and manages supplier key performance indicators; ensures effective identification and mitigation of potential / actual supply base issues; develops corrective action plans as needed.

Process

Establishes a culture of continuous process improvement; identifies and leads opportunities for process improvement at a functional level; ensures all processes are clearly defined, documented and consistently executed.

Partners with Senior Materials Manager on projects and initiatives as needed.

Actively drives on-going requirements identification and development of systems and processes to support the Materials Development function.

Quality

Collaborates with Research and Testing and Quality Assurance to develop, document and communicate materials performance standards and testing requirements.

Ensures all materials are developed and commercialized in compliance with defined quality standards.

Ensures materials testing is initiated as appropriate, and results are compliant prior to approval.

Compliance

Ensures all materials suppliers meet fair labor, trade and legal requirements as defined or verified by our company.

Ensures materials are developed in targeted countries of origin, to support aligned materials / product sourcing strategies.

Actively supports development and execution of materials sustainability strategies.

Organizational Structure

Creates organizational structure and succession plans for department to support long-term business needs.

Qualifications:

5+ years work experience in textiles; 5+ years management experience.

Technical knowledge of materials and materials development processes; knowledge of functional characteristics and testing protocols for high performance textiles and trims; familiarity with color management.

Expertise in textile manufacturing processes and global materials sourcing and strategies; understanding of product development and manufacturing processes, preferred.

Bachelors Degree, preferred.

Leadership:

Ability to lead, manage and motivate a team.

Ability to inspire and motivate by example.

Ability to influence and drive results through others.

Demonstrated success in cross-functional project leadership.

Respected and trusted by peers and cross-divisional colleagues.

Business Savvy:

Drives materials and product innovation.

Strong negotiation skills and strong analytical skills.

Uses business knowledge, creativity and sound judgment to effectively resolve problems; demonstrates exceptional follow-through.

Broad industry and global market knowledge.

People Management & Development:

Creates a team environment that embodies our values and culture and delivers results.

Strong people management skills; sets challenging goals, empowers people and holds them accountable for results; identifies and develops talent; plans for succession and grows leaders for the future.

Works respectfully and effectively cross-culturally.

Change Management:

Demonstrates success in process review and improvement; challenges the status quo, champions change and effectively influences others to change.

Demonstrates initiative and drive in pursuing new projects and process improvement opportunities; willing to take considered risks.

Builds strong relationships and successfully collaborates with key partners to identify and capitalize on opportunities and manage through conflicts; actively solicits feedback from others.