Material Manager

Is responsible for the successful execution of developing material and color requests from development to adoption.
Manages material sourcing and development in partnership with suppliers and vendors. This includes all new and counter source fabric developments.
Works directly with Design Product Developers Costing and Technical Design partners to understand interpret and execute key seasonal fabric and color developments that meet technical and aesthetic requirements and cost target.
Initiate and monitor material development ensuring materials meet performance and costing standards for buy ready date.
Ensures material sample yardage availability for development samples; proactively advises when inventory is low.
Ensures all sample yardage being requested aligns with approved standard.
Initiate fabric testing to support a comprehensive risk assessment of materials at the development stage.
Responsible for cost negotiation with material supplier during development stage.
Partners with Product Developers to ensure clear alignment between mills and garment vendors.
Manages communication with Mills and Factory to resolve technical limitations of new raw materials and color; provide solutions to quality issues during development stage.
Responsible for ensuring Flex PLM database and material chart is consistently updated and accurate for all material profiles.
Meet key deadlines for fabric development and approval based on seasonal calendar requirements.
Proactively elevates challenges discovered in both material development and meeting calendar timelines.
Seasonally evaluate performance of all mill suppliers; on time delivery costing meeting testing standards and communication.
Schedule and lead the Material Production Handoff Meeting with support from manager briefing QA and Testing teams on development history.
Develop and clearly communicate material development history for commercialization meetings.
Develop and implement strategies to optimize development processes increase efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining high product quality and meeting calendar timelines.
Serve as a mentor to the Materials and color team providing guidance and support to foster professional growth and development.

• Is responsible for the successful execution of developing material and color requests from development to adoption.
• Manages material sourcing and development in partnership with suppliers and vendors. This includes all new and counter source fabric developments.
• Works directly with Design Product Developers Costing and Technical Design partners to understand interpret and execute key seasonal fabric and color developments that meet technical and aesthetic requirements and cost target.
• Initiate and monitor material development ensuring materials meet performance and costing standards for buy ready date.
• Ensures material sample yardage availability for development samples; proactively advises when inventory is low.
• Ensures all sample yardage being requested aligns with approved standard.
• Initiate fabric testing to support a comprehensive risk assessment of materials at the development stage.
• Responsible for cost negotiation with material supplier during development stage.
• Partners with Product Developers to ensure clear alignment between mills and garment vendors.
• Manages communication with Mills and Factory to resolve technical limitations of new raw materials and color; provide solutions to quality issues during development stage.
• Responsible for ensuring Flex PLM database and material chart is consistently updated and accurate for all material profiles.
• Meet key deadlines for fabric development and approval based on seasonal calendar requirements.
• Proactively elevates challenges discovered in both material development and meeting calendar timelines.
• Seasonally evaluate performance of all mill suppliers; on time delivery costing meeting testing standards and communication.
• Schedule and lead the Material Production Handoff Meeting with support from manager briefing QA and Testing teams on development history.
• Develop and clearly communicate material development history for commercialization meetings.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize development processes increase efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining high product quality and meeting calendar timelines.
• Serve as a mentor to the Materials and color team providing guidance and support to foster professional growth and development.

About Skechers

Skechers a global Fortune 500 company develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear apparel and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores e-commerce and digital stores and through our more than 5300 Skechers retail locations.