Innovative Apparel Materials & Trims Lead

Nike Inc; Beaverton, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. in Beaverton, OR seeks a Lead Apparel Materials & Trims Developer to drive advanced material development from concept through commercialization.

You’ll lead cross-functional teams with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing and Quality to deliver innovative, scalable solutions. You’ll evaluate material technologies, manage timelines, mentor teammates, and help shape North America Local Creation’s materials strategy for speed, quality and consumer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field.
• Minimum 6 years of apparel materials, trims, textile development, product development, or related field.
• Deep knowledge of fabrics, trims, yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and garment manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience leading material and trim development from concept through commercialization and production readiness.
• Strong understanding of material performance requirements, testing methodologies, quality standards, and risk management practices.
• Experience working with textile mills, trim suppliers, manufacturers, and development partners to create and commercialize products.
• Ability to evaluate material construction, cost, performance, manufacturability, and sustainability considerations.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Experience partnering across Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Quality functions.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment across diverse partners.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Travel to support vendor engagement, material development, and commercialization activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and commercialization of apparel materials and trims across assigned opportunities.
• Partner with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Quality teams throughout the product creation process.
• Evaluate emerging material technologies, supplier capabilities, and market trends to elevate product performance and consumer relevance.
• Drive development timelines from concept through production readiness with key milestones.
• Lead material testing, validation, and risk assessment to meet performance and quality standards.
• Collaborate with vendor partners to develop and commercialize innovative material solutions.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships for speed, innovation, quality, and operational excellence.
• Identify risks early and provide clear mitigation plans for informed decisions.
• Continuously improve development processes to reduce lead times.
• Document and communicate material specifications, development status, risks, and opportunities clearly.
• Mentor teammates through technical expertise and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to long-term materials strategy and innovation roadmap for North America Local Creation.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Strategic thinking

Communication (verbal & written)

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

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

Tools

PLM systems

3D development tools

Digital product creation tools

Job description

Nike Inc. in Beaverton, OR seeks a Lead Apparel Materials & Trims Developer to drive advanced material development from concept through commercialization.

You’ll lead cross-functional teams with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing and Quality to deliver innovative, scalable solutions. You’ll evaluate material technologies, manage timelines, mentor teammates, and help shape North America Local Creation’s materials strategy for speed, quality and consumer