Senior Manager Apparel Materials & Trims Development, Local Creation

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Pahokee (FL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Sports Jobs Limited is seeking a Senior Materials Lead for its NA Local Creation team in the United States. This role partners with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to shape material sourcing strategies and drive commercialization ready materials for performance and sustainability goals.

The candidate will oversee testing, risk assessment, and process improvements across development lifecycles, mentoring teams and translating insights into

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Textile Science, Apparel, Materials Engineering, Product Development or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of directly relevant experience in apparel materials or product development.
• Deep knowledge of yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and trim development processes.
• Proven experience leading material development from concept to commercialization and production readiness.
• Strong understanding of material testing, quality requirements, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Drive material and trim development from concept through commercialization with vendors and cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate daily with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to develop elevated material solutions.
• Lead material testing, validation, risk assessment, and performance evaluations for readiness.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring across the materials function.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable material development strategies.
• Champion long-term material innovation and drive cross-functional alignment for adoption.

Skills

Textile science

Apparel materials

Materials engineering

Product development

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Vendor management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Textile Science or related field

Job description

About the Role

This role sits within the North America Local Creation team and partners closely with Design, Product Management, Technical Development, Colour, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Material Vendor partners throughout the product creation process. It 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. The role shapes the future of apparel materials by exploring emerging trends, unlocking new technologies, and translating insights into commercialised material solutions that support performance, sustainability, and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive material and trim development from concept through commercialisation with assigned vendors, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional teammates, helping shape material sourcing strategies and strengthening vendor capabilities through training and partnership.
• 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 commercialisation.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the materials function to 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 to ensure materials perform as intended when integrated into the final garment.
• Identify potential material risks early and provide clear recommendations to support informed decision‑making throughout development.
• 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.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 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 commercialisation 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 commercialise 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.
• Forward‑thinking materials leader who combines deep technical expertise with a passion for innovation.
• Strong understanding of textiles, trims, and material construction and how they come to life in the finished garment.

The Application Process

Accommodations are available to complete the interview process, including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in‑person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed.