Fabric R&D Associate Manager

Adecco; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Adecco Creative & Marketing is seeking an Associate Manager, Fabric R&D for a fashion brand in NYC. You will own fabric development from concept through production, aligning with cost, lead time, and quality targets while collaborating with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing and Product Development teams.

The ideal candidate brings 4+ years in fabric development within fashion, deep knowledge of textiles and construction, and strong organizational skills to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ years of experience in fashion/apparel with a focus on fabric development.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabric construction, textiles, and materials.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage assigned fabric categories from development through production.
• Collaborate with Raw Materials leadership to source and develop fabrics.
• Support mill and sourcing strategies.
• Maintain fabric development recipes and seasonal data.
• Analyze costs and KPIs for fabric development; provide insights.
• Develop and organize fabric libraries and archives.
• Ensure PLC milestones and deadlines are achieved.
• Lead Fabric Standard Setting across woven and knit fabrics.
• Communicate progress and issues with cross-functional partners.
• Research emerging fabric trends and present concepts.

Job description

Adecco Creative & Marketing is recruiting an Associate Manager, Fabric R&D for a fashion brand in NYC. This role is responsible for the seasonal development and execution of fabric strategies that align with sourcing, cost, quality, and lead time objectives. Partnering closely with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Product Development teams, this individual will drive fabric innovation, maintain product integrity, and ensure adherence to the Product Life Cycle (PLC) calendar.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in raw materials and fabric construction, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. A proactive mindset, attention to detail, and ownership mentality are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage assigned fabric categories from development through production, leading initiatives and driving results independently.
• Partner with Raw Materials leadership to source and develop fabrics that support design vision, merchandising strategies, and business objectives.
• Support and execute corporate mill and sourcing strategies.
• Maintain fabric development recipes, hindsight reports, and seasonal data with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Analyze seasonal fabric development costs and key performance metrics, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Develop, maintain, and organize fabric libraries and archives to support current and future design needs.
• Ensure all Product Life Cycle (PLC) milestones, deliverables, and deadlines are achieved.
• Build and maintain comprehensive seasonal fabric binders and records for assigned classifications.
• Own Fabric Standard Setting (FSS) processes across both woven and knit fabric categories.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with cross-functional partners regarding fabric development progress, challenges, and opportunities.
• Research emerging fabric trends, attend fabric shows and mill meetings, and present new concepts and innovations to internal teams.
• Create seasonal concept packages and support target costing initiatives for assigned categories.
• Partner with leadership to troubleshoot development and bulk production challenges while proactively identifying solutions.
• Serve as the primary fabric expert for assigned product categories and lead discussions during development meetings.
• Manage sample yardage requirements, tailoring-ready dates, and any related development issues.
• Continuously improve communication and workflow efficiencies within assigned categories.
• Coordinate copyright documentation and communications with overseas partners and legal teams.
• Support additional projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ years of experience in the fashion or apparel industry, with a strong focus on fabric development.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabric construction, textiles, raw materials, and fabric performance characteristics.
• Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong analytical abilities with experience interpreting seasonal development data and cost metrics.
• Effective interpersonal, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to shifting business needs and deadlines.
• Self-starter with strong ownership, problem-solving, and project management capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ideal Candidate

• Passionate about fabric innovation and product development.
• Collaborative team player who can build strong partnerships across design, merchandising, sourcing, and production teams.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the ability to anticipate challenges and drive results independently.