Materials Manager

Pact; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Pact in Boulder, Colorado, is seeking a materials expert to manage seasonal textile development and partner with suppliers. You will ensure high-quality, sustainable materials contribute to the brand's mission of conscious clothing production.

Your responsibilities include overseeing the testing process, advocating for the right fabric decisions, and maintaining material libraries. A minimum of 5 years experience in natural materials development is essential.

Competitive salary ranges from $100,000 to $115,000 annually, depending on experience, and a commitment to sustainability underpins all work.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in natural materials development for apparel.
• Strong understanding of fiber construction and dyeing processes.
• Ability to maintain and advocate for material integrity in production.

Responsibilities

• Own seasonal textile development from direction to production-ready materials.
• Partner with suppliers to develop fabrics and manage sampling.
• Run the material testing process and report performance results.

Skills

Natural materials development

Knowledge of GOTS certification

Familiarity with ASTM, AATCC, ISO protocols

Project management skills

Communication skills

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Hi, we’re Pact — it’s great to meet you. Since 2009, we’ve been on a mission to help people dress themselves well with clothing that’s stylish, comfortable, and consciously made. From thoughtfully designed apparel for men and women to soft, sustainable bedding, we make everyday basics that feel good for you and the planet. We partner with Fair Trade Certified™ factories and everything is made with Organic Cotton. For more information, visit https://wearpact.com/about.

About the Role

This is a hands‑on materials role. You own the seasonal textile development process from initial direction and supplier development through testing and approved materials, and you keep our physical and digital material library current and trusted. You are the materials expert in the room. You advocate for the right fabric, even when that means pushing back on design or leadership. When a concept cannot execute in the intended fabric, you are the person who says so early, explains why, and brings the alternative.

You report to the Head of Development and partner daily with design, color, merchandising, development, and operations to bring materials to market that are high-quality, functional, and fully aligned with our sustainability commitments and product architecture. Over time, you help Pact build toward direct mill relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Own seasonal textile development in close partnership with design and development, from initial direction through approved, production‑ready materials.
• Develop and manage material suppliers. Partner with our suppliers and sourcing team to develop fabrics, manage sampling timelines, and support negotiation on MOQs and fabric costs.
• Run the material testing process end to end. Manage the external testing agency, apply ASTM, AATCC, and ISO protocols, and report performance results cross‑functionally.
• Maintain the material library, physical and digital, keeping it current, organized, and accessible for design and development.
• Partner on feasibility, costing, and timelines with product development and operations to keep the seasonal calendar on track.
• Advocate for the right fabric. Bring an informed, market‑grounded point of view each season and make the case for the right material with design and leadership, backed by data.
• Protect material integrity. Flag when a concept cannot execute in the intended fabric, explain the why, and propose the alternative that holds quality and sustainability.
• Help build toward direct mill sourcing. Surface fiber and fabric opportunities that fit where the line is heading, and help Pact establish the direct mill relationships we are growing into.
• Stay ahead of natural fiber trends and bring informed, market‑grounded recommendations each season.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of experience in natural materials development for apparel.
• Working knowledge of GOTS certification and organic cotton development standards. This is core to how we work.
• Solid knowledge of natural and blended fiber construction across knit, woven, and non‑woven, with a working understanding of dyeing and finishing.
• Fluency in testing standards: ASTM, AATCC, and ISO protocols.
• Experience developing fabrics with suppliers and managing sampling timelines.
• The conviction to defend a material decision with data, and the communication skills to do it with senior stakeholders.
• Comfort with PLM systems and organized, process‑driven workflows.
• Strong project management across multiple categories and timelines at once.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with sustainability credentialing: Oeko‑Tex, bluesign, or regenerative sourcing frameworks.
• Direct mill relationships and sourcing experience.

Compensation

$100,000 to $115,000 annually, depending on experience.

Why Pact

At Pact, sustainability is the work, not a footnote. We are a team of people who care deeply about how things are made, what they are made from, and what kind of industry we are helping to build. The materials we develop are the foundation of everything we put into the world. If you want to do that work at a brand that is genuinely committed to getting it right, this is the place.