Senior Raw Materials Manager, Handbags

Veronica Beard; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Veronica Beard seeks a Senior Raw Materials Manager to lead sourcing, development, and commercialization of materials for leather goods and accessories. You will partner with Design, Product Development, and Production to translate creative direction into QC’d materials, manage a global supplier base, and ensure on-time, cost-effective delivery while preserving brand aesthetics.

Ideal candidates have strong technical material knowledge, proven supplier management, and a track record of balancing

Qualifications

• 6+ years in material sourcing, development, or management in apparel/accessories.
• Strong technical expertise in fabrics and/or leather; knowledge of trims, synthetics, finishes, hardware.
• Proven track record managing global suppliers and commercializing materials.
• Strong negotiation skills; understanding of material costing, minimums, inventory liability, lead times.
• Experience balancing seasonal development calendars across categories.
• Proficiency in PLM and Microsoft Excel; ERP familiarity preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities; detail-oriented.
• Collaborative and able to align with Veronica Beard aesthetic and customer.

Responsibilities

• Lead seasonal material sourcing and development aligned with design directions and calendars.
• Identify materials and finishes meeting Veronica Beard's aesthetic, performance, and margin needs.
• Build and maintain a material library with specs, color/finish standards, pricing, MOQs, and lead times.
• Manage relationships with global mills, tanneries, trims, and hardware suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, quality, pricing, and delivery; recommend new partners when needed.
• Own material development from sourcing through sampling, approval, and handoff to bulk production.
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and terms to support category margins.
• Ensure materials meet end-use performance and document/communicate specs to factories.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Collaborative approach

Attention to detail

Tools

PLM systems

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Overview

The Senior Raw Materials Manager will lead raw material sourcing, development, and commercialization across Veronica Beard’s leather goods accessory collections. Materials include fabrics, leather, suede, synthetics, specialty materials, trims, and hardware.

Partnering closely with Design, Product Development, and Production, this role will translate creative direction into materials that meet the brand’s aesthetic, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The ideal candidate combines a strong eye for product with technical expertise and commercial judgment, balancing seasonal innovation with a reliable, scalable supplier base.

Responsibilities

Material Sourcing & Development

• Lead seasonal material sourcing and development in alignment with Design direction, category needs, and development calendars.
• Identify materials, finishes, and techniques that support Veronica Beard’s brand aesthetic while meeting performance and margin requirements.
• Build and maintain an organized material library, including approved qualities, color and finish standards, technical specifications, pricing, minimums, and lead times.
• Identify opportunities to share materials across categories and establish core qualities that support continuity and purchasing efficiency.

Supplier Strategy & Accountability

• Manage relationships with global mills, tanneries, trim vendors, and hardware suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, quality, pricing, and delivery performance; recommend new partners or alternate sources where needed.
• Hold suppliers accountable for development commitments, approved standards, and bulk delivery requirements.
• Partner with internal teams to support supplier compliance and responsible sourcing requirements.

Commercialization & Production Readiness

• Own the material development process from initial sourcing through sampling, approval, and handoff to bulk production.
• Coordinate lab dips, strike-offs, leather trials, hardware finishes, and other submissions against seasonal milestones.
• Ensure approved standards and material specifications are clearly documented and communicated to factories.
• Anticipate material risks and coordinate solutions that protect design intent, quality, and delivery.

Costing & Material Planning

• Negotiate material pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, and commercial terms to support category margin targets.
• Partner with Product Development and factories to validate consumption, yields, and waste allowances.
• Collaborate with Production on material projections, commitments, inventory allocation, and excess material management.
• Identify opportunities to reduce material liability through consolidation, carryover usage, and disciplined purchasing.

Quality & Technical Performance

• Establish appropriate testing requirements with internal teams and ensure materials meet intended end-use performance standards.
• Review consistency between development, sample, and bulk materials, including color, finish, hand feel, and durability.
• Lead supplier resolution of material failures and quality claims, coordinating corrective action with Product Development and Production.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 6+ years of experience in material sourcing, development, or management within contemporary or premium apparel and accessories.
• Strong technical expertise in fabrics and/or leather, with working knowledge of trims, synthetics, specialty finishes, and hardware.
• Demonstrated success managing global suppliers and commercializing materials from concept through bulk production.
• Strong negotiation skills and an understanding of material costing, consumption, minimums, inventory liability, and production lead times.
• Experience working within seasonal development calendars and balancing competing priorities across categories.
• Proficiency in PLM systems and Microsoft Excel; familiarity with ERP systems preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make clear recommendations and drive timely decisions.
• A collaborative approach, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of Veronica Beard’s aesthetic and customer.

The base salary range for this role is between $110,000 and $125,000. The relevant base salary will vary depending on wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to, skill sets, experience, training, degrees, and certifications. The base salary is just one component of our total compensation offerings, which consist of a comprehensive benefits package as well as a short-term incentive program, clothing allowance, and merchandise discounts

At Veronica Beard, we are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where every single employee can thrive and feel valued. As a company, we firmly believe that there is strength in diversity. We seek to recruit talent from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds and are actively seeking candidates with a dedication to advancing equity, inclusion, and racial and social justice in their work.

Veronica Beard is committed to an environment of mutual respect and is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer. No employee or applicant is discriminated against because of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.