Director, Global Material Creation

Carhartt, Inc.; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Carhartt, Inc. in Dearborn, MI is seeking a Director of Global Material Creation to lead fabric development across knits, wovens, denim and related materials.

This role drives global specifications and material strategies, coordinating with external partners and cross-functional teams to ensure innovative products and strong supply chain resilience. The position requires a deep technical background in textiles, significant leadership experience, and the ability to guide multi-year material

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of progressive experience in product development. Apparel industry preferred.
• Minimum six years of leadership experience.
• Strong technical fabric development background. Apparel industry preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership in development with a focus on innovation and quality.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and aptitude.
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster business relationships with cross functional teams, and internal and external partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; and exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate.
• Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, delegate work and concurrently manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor and develop material creation teams consisting of managers of Knit, Woven, Rainwear/Insulation and Resourcing.
• Oversee team budget by ensuring accurate monthly/quarterly guidance.
• Lead the strategic development of fabric. Provide vision and strategic direction linked with corporate strategies and initiatives.
• Support the development of marketing product claims by providing performance data and testing.
• Oversee the identification, research and vetting of new raw material suppliers which will strengthen Carhartt’s global supply chain and/or bring new technologies/innovation to our business.
• Support the Sr Director in establishing the multi-year material strategy.
• Direct and execute strategic material direction for all assigned materials.
• Develop a network of sources for the development of raw materials.
• Analyze and resolve quality issues related to all assigned materials.

Skills

Fabric development

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Communication

Negotiation

Organization

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s in Textiles/Related

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Title: Director, Global Material Creation

Department: Global Product Creation

Reports to: Sr. Director, Global Material Creation

Location: Dearborn, MI

Job Classification: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Director, Global Material Creation oversees all fabric creation for knits, wovens, denim, rainwear, insulation, composites, and non-wovens.This includes researching new raw materials suppliers which will strengthen Carhartt’s global supply chain and/or bring new technologies to the business. The role is responsible for leading strategies and processes, within established guardrails of the product and business strategies, which will ensure a continuous flow of innovative products keeping Carhartt as the leader of work wear.The role builds and fosters strong collaborative relationships with external partners and cross functional teams.The Director is accountable for setting the global specifications of non-regulatory fabrics to meet the current and future needs of Carhartt and its consumers.

Associate Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor and develop material creation teams consisting of managers of Knit, Woven, Rainwear/Insulation and Resourcing .

• Oversee team budget by ensuring accurate monthly/quarterly guidance.
• Lead the strategic development of fabric. Provide vision and strategic direction linked with corporate strategies and initiatives.
• Support the development of marketing product claims by providing performance data and testing.

• Oversee the identification, research and vetting of new raw material suppliers which will strengthen Carhartt’s global supply chain and/or bring new technologies/innovation to our business.

• Support the Sr Director in establishing the multi-year material strategy.

• Direct and execute strategic material direction for all assigned materials.
• Develop a network of sources for the development of raw materials.
• Analyze and resolve quality issues related to all assigned materials.
• Establish and/or update fabric platforms and raw material specifications which support Carhartt’s position in the market. Ensure specifications are communicated to Suppliers and Supply Chain.
• Drive the resourcing needs guided by redeveloping materials across our global network of vendors while adhering to the established Global Spec.
• Establish quality standards and requirements for all raw materials based on Carhartt requirements, end use and historical standards through the creation of the global spec process.
• Collaborate with the labeling team to ensure that care labels meet FTC regulations.
• Continue to build on technical expertise; and stay abreast of changes in the industry and trends related to the textile and apparel industry including new technologies; and focus on how these changes and/or trends can influence and support company strategies

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Apparel, Textile Engineering, Industrial Engineering or related field; equivalentyears ofrelated experiencein lieu of degree.
• Master's degree preferred.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum ten years of progressive experience in product development. Apparel industry preferred.

• Minimum six years of leadership experience.

• Strong technical fabric development background. Apparel industry preferred.

• Demonstrated leadership in development with a focus on innovation and quality.

• Strong strategic and analytical skills and aptitude.

• Demonstrated ability to build and foster business relationships with cross functional teams, and internal and external partners.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; and exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate.

• Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, delegate work and concurrently manage multiple projects.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Typical office environment cubicle/ office setting. Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer is required.
• Willing to work some weekends if necessary.
• National and International travel required (up to 50%).

• This position has a Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities.
• Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.

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