Global Leather Materials Strategy Lead

Ralph Lauren; New York (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Lauren seeks a Senior Materials Manager to lead the development and strategy of leather goods and shoes materials, partnering with Design, Product Management, Global Sourcing, Product Integrity, Sustainability and Raw Materials to guide material direction from concept to commercialization.

The ideal candidate brings deep leather and material expertise, strong strategic and analytical abilities, and a proven track record influencing senior stakeholders in a global, cross-functional

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leather and materials development, sourcing, or a related field.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with cost management experience.
• Leadership and stakeholder management across global teams.
• Experience with PLM and product development tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute seasonal and long-range leather and material strategy for Leather Goods and Shoes.
• Lead end-to-end leather & material development initiatives with cross-functional teams.
• Establish leather governance including approvals, testing, and commercialization readiness.
• Drive cost management, supplier negotiations, and alternative sourcing options.
• Embed in product teams to ensure leather decisions support product needs.
• Manage leather sampling, tracking, and prototype support for timely development.
• Build strategic relationships with tanneries and vendors to drive innovation.
• Lead initiatives to improve calendar adherence, data accuracy and speed-to-market.

Skills

Leather & materials development

Sourcing

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

Vendor management

Travel flexibility

Tools

PLM systems

MS Office

Job description

Ralph Lauren seeks a Senior Materials Manager to lead the development and strategy of leather goods and shoes materials, partnering with Design, Product Management, Global Sourcing, Product Integrity, Sustainability and Raw Materials to guide material direction from concept to commercialization.

The ideal candidate brings deep leather and material expertise, strong strategic and analytical abilities, and a proven track record influencing senior stakeholders in a global, cross-functional