A globally recognized consumer technology company is seeking an experienced Global Supply Manager – Materials to support the sourcing, supplier development, manufacturing readiness, and production execution of specialized softgoods materials. These materials include textiles, yarns, polyurethane films, adhesives, and other innovative material solutions used across a diverse portfolio of consumer products.
This role will be responsible for ensuring materials are delivered on time, at the required quality standards, and at competitive costs while managing supplier relationships, production capacity, technical qualifications, and supply chain risks.
The successful candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, manufacturing partners, and suppliers to support material qualification, product development, production readiness, and ongoing supply chain optimization.
Key Responsibilities
- Global Supply Chain Management: Identify, develop, qualify, and manage suppliers of specialized softgoods materials to support product development and production requirements.
- Production Planning & Delivery: Develop and manage material supply plans, production schedules, and capacity forecasts to ensure on-time delivery and alignment with demand.
- Supplier Management: Establish strong working relationships with suppliers and manufacturing partners, monitor performance, and drive accountability for quality, cost, delivery, and program milestones.
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Identify technical, operational, and business risks through data-driven analysis and develop effective mitigation strategies to ensure continuity of supply.
- Program & Project Management: Develop project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables while coordinating cross-functional activities and managing competing priorities.
- Material Qualification: Lead material qualification activities using a structured, phased approach, including critical-to-quality requirements, technical documentation, product validation, and reliability assessments.
- Technology Development: Support the evaluation and development of new materials, finishes, manufacturing processes, and technologies to meet evolving product requirements.
- Manufacturing Readiness: Partner with suppliers and manufacturing facilities to support development builds, production readiness, process validation, and production ramp activities.
- Post-Production Ramp Support: Drive post-ramp material qualification initiatives, including alternate-source qualification, color variations, and other activities supporting cost optimization and supply chain risk reduction.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, materials, product development, operations, quality, and procurement teams to resolve issues and achieve program objectives.
- Performance Monitoring: Analyze supplier capacity, manufacturing performance, quality metrics, and delivery data to identify improvement opportunities and drive corrective actions.
- Stakeholder Communication: Provide clear updates on program status, supplier performance, risks, and mitigation plans to relevant stakeholders and leadership.
Minimum Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing operations readiness, supply chain management, supplier management, or a related field.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience with manufacturing operations, production planning, capacity management, and supply chain execution.
- Strong project management skills, including schedule development, milestone tracking, cross-functional coordination, and supplier deliverable management.
- Experience supporting material or product qualification, process validation, quality requirements, and technical documentation.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate risks and develop data-driven mitigation strategies.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with textiles, softgoods, yarns, polyurethane films, adhesives, or other specialized materials.
- Experience in material qualification, alternate-source development, and supplier diversification initiatives.
- Knowledge of batch and continuous manufacturing processes, factory operations, capacity planning, and quality control.
- Experience supporting NPI builds, manufacturing readiness, production ramp, and post-ramp qualification activities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, suppliers, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturing partners across different time zones.