Apparel Materials & Trims Development Lead

Nike Inc; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking a forward-thinking Materials Development Senior Manager to lead material and trim development for the North America Local Creation team.

This role partners with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to shape sourcing strategies and elevate material performance and quality. The ideal candidate combines deep textiles expertise with a passion for innovation, able to drive day-to-day execution and long-term strategy while guiding teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field.
• 10+ years of directly relevant work experience.
• Experience in apparel materials, textiles, trims, or product development within the apparel industry.
• Deep technical knowledge of yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and trim development processes.
• Experience managing material development from concept through commercialization and production readiness.
• Strong understanding of material testing, performance standards, quality requirements, and risk management practices.
• Experience partnering with domestic and overseas vendors, sample rooms, ateliers, and manufacturing partners to develop and commercialize products.
• Ability to evaluate material construction, performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence partners across Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Experience identifying process improvement opportunities and driving efficiency, speed, and quality.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Growth mindset with a passion for innovation and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Drive material and trim development from concept through commercialization with vendors, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional teammates.
• Collaborate daily with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams to create elevated material solutions.
• Lead material testing, validation, risk assessment, and performance evaluations to ensure product excellence.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the materials function to elevate team capability.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable material development strategies.
• Champion long-term material innovation initiatives and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Maintain understanding of material performance and construction to ensure readiness when integrated into garments.
• Identify material risks early and provide clear recommendations for decisions.
• Improve processes to reduce lead times and increase speed, efficiency, and quality across development lifecycles.
• Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and growth within the team.

Skills

Textile knowledge

Vendor partnership

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Growth mindset

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field

Job description

Nike Inc. is seeking a forward-thinking Materials Development Senior Manager to lead material and trim development for the North America Local Creation team.

This role partners with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to shape sourcing strategies and elevate material performance and quality. The ideal candidate combines deep textiles expertise with a passion for innovation, able to drive day-to-day execution and long-term strategy while guiding teams