Senior Manager Apparel Materials & Trims Development, Local Creation

Nike Inc; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking a forward-thinking Materials Development Senior Manager to lead material and trim development for the North America Local Creation team.

This role partners with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to shape sourcing strategies and elevate material performance and quality. The ideal candidate combines deep textiles expertise with a passion for innovation, able to drive day-to-day execution and long-term strategy while guiding teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field.
• 10+ years of directly relevant work experience.
• Experience in apparel materials, textiles, trims, or product development within the apparel industry.
• Deep technical knowledge of yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and trim development processes.
• Experience managing material development from concept through commercialization and production readiness.
• Strong understanding of material testing, performance standards, quality requirements, and risk management practices.
• Experience partnering with domestic and overseas vendors, sample rooms, ateliers, and manufacturing partners to develop and commercialize products.
• Ability to evaluate material construction, performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence partners across Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Experience identifying process improvement opportunities and driving efficiency, speed, and quality.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Growth mindset with a passion for innovation and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Drive material and trim development from concept through commercialization with vendors, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional teammates.
• Collaborate daily with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams to create elevated material solutions.
• Lead material testing, validation, risk assessment, and performance evaluations to ensure product excellence.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the materials function to elevate team capability.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable material development strategies.
• Champion long-term material innovation initiatives and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Maintain understanding of material performance and construction to ensure readiness when integrated into garments.
• Identify material risks early and provide clear recommendations for decisions.
• Improve processes to reduce lead times and increase speed, efficiency, and quality across development lifecycles.
• Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and growth within the team.

Skills

Textile knowledge

Vendor partnership

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Growth mindset

Analytical thinking

Education

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

Job description

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

The Materials and Trims Development Senior Manager sits within the North America Local Creation team and partners closely with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Color, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Material Vendor partners throughout the product creation process.

This role leads material and trim development with assigned vendors, helps shape material sourcing strategies, strengthens vendor capabilities through training and partnership, and serves as a key connector across the product creation ecosystem. The position reports to the Director of Product Development, Local Creation NA.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is looking for a forward-thinking materials leader who combines deep technical expertise with a passion for innovation. This individual thrives at the intersection of craft, performance, and product creation, bringing a strong understanding of textiles, trims, and material construction and how they ultimately come to life in the finished garment.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable driving day-to-day execution and shaping long-term material strategies. They are naturally curious, continuously exploring new technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and industry trends to unlock innovative solutions that elevate performance, quality, sustainability, and value.

This leader builds strong partnerships across the product creation ecosystem, influences through expertise, and helps teams navigate complexity with clarity and confidence. They anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and drive continuous improvement while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and growth.

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
• A minimum of 10 years directly relevant work experience
• Working experience in apparel materials, textiles, trims, or product development within the apparel industry.
• Deep technical knowledge of yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and trim development processes.
• Proven experience managing material development from concept through commercialization and production readiness.
• Strong understanding of material testing, performance standards, quality requirements, and risk management practices.
• Experience partnering with domestic and overseas vendors, sample rooms, ateliers, and manufacturing partners to develop and commercialize products.
• Ability to evaluate material construction, performance, cost, and manufacturability to support informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence partners across Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience identifying process improvement opportunities and driving efficiency, speed, and quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills across internal and external partners.
• A growth mindset with a passion for innovation, continuous learning, team development, and creating impactful material solutions.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You’ll shape the future of apparel materials by exploring emerging trends, unlocking new technologies, and translating insights into commercialized material solutions that support Nike’s performance, sustainability, and business objectives. You will have a unique opportunity to shape new ways of working and contribute to enterprise business initiatives.

• Drive material and trim development from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with vendors, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional teammates.
• Collaborate daily with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams to create elevated material and trim solutions.
• Lead material testing, validation, risk assessment, and performance evaluations to ensure product excellence and readiness for commercialization.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the materials function, helping elevate team capability and knowledge.
• Translate consumer insights, athlete needs, market trends, and emerging technologies into actionable material development strategies.
• Champion long-term material innovation initiatives and influence cross-functional alignment to drive adoption and execution.
• Maintain a deep understanding of material performance and construction, ensuring materials perform as intended when integrated into the final garment.
• Identify potential material risks early and provide clear recommendations to drive informed decision-making throughout the development process.
• Continuously improve ways of working by simplifying processes, reducing development lead times, and driving greater speed, efficiency, and quality across the development lifecycle.
• Contribute to team culture by fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, developing others, and bringing strategic thinking to everyday work.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.