R & D Material Manager

New York City, NY - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 2 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position: R&D Material Manager

Work Location: New York NY

Salary: $100000 - $110000/year

Duration: Full-time

Shift: General Shift

Job Description:

lead the research development and sourcing of innovative fabrics trims finishes and raw materials for home textiles (table linens kitchen pillows rugs mats bedding bath). This role ensures that the company remains competitive by identifying new material technologies driving sustainability initiatives and developing cost-effective compliant and high-quality materials aligned with brand and customer requirements. serves as a critical link between design product development sourcing and suppliers/fabric mills to deliver differentiated and market-leading product offerings.

Key Responsibilities:

Material Development & Innovation

Research source and develop new fabrics yarns finishes and treatments that align with brand positioning cost targets and quality standards.
Analyze Trend Reports WGSN Fashion snoops etc and curate global textile trends innovations and emerging technologies based on the business needs (e.g. performance finishes sustainable fibers recycled content).
Propose new materials and constructions to design and merchandising teams for seasonal assortments.
Co-develop new fabrics weaves finish with fabric mills and optimize material cost and explore options on cost savings.
Understand raw material performance standards like color fastness pilling tensile and tear strength flammability etc.

Sustainability & Compliance

Partner with sustainability teams to identify eco-friendly and certified material solutions (e.g. GOTS OEKO-TEX BCI GRS recycled polyester).
Ensure all materials comply with regulatory safety and retailer-specific requirements (flammability chemical restrictions testing protocols).

Supplier & Vendor Engagement

Build and maintain strong relationships with global textile mills material suppliers and innovation partners.
Evaluate vendor capabilities for new material development and manage seasonal innovation briefs.
Negotiate lead times minimum order quantities and development costs for materials.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with design and product development to integrate innovative materials into collections.
Work with costing and sourcing to ensure materials meet cost parameters and production feasibility.
Collaborate with quality and compliance teams to test and validate material performance.

Process & Database Management

Establish and maintain a material library/database including test results and supplier information.
Develop standardized procedures for material development testing and approvals.
Provide material training and trend presentations to design merchandising and sourcing teams.

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Textiles Material Science Textile Engineering or related field.
7 10 years of experience in material development R&D or sourcing within the home textile apparel or soft goods industry.
Strong knowledge of textile fibers weaving/knitting techniques dyeing/finishing processes and fabric testing standards.
Experience with sustainable and innovative material initiatives.
Established network of mills suppliers and material innovators across key production regions (India Pakistan China Turkey Egypt Portugal etc.).
Excellent project management skills with ability to juggle multiple material developments across categories and timelines.
Proficiency in PLM/ERP systems and advanced Excel; CAD or textile design software a plus.
Strong communication negotiation and presentation skills.

Key Competencies:

Curiosity and passion for innovation in textiles
Strong technical expertise in fabric development and testing
Ability to balance creativity with cost and feasibility
Strong vendor management and relationship-building skills
Detail-oriented with a structured approach to R&D processes

Position: R&D Material Manager Work Location: New York NY Salary: $100000 - $110000/year Duration: Full-time Shift: General Shift Job Description: lead the research development and sourcing of innovative fabrics trims finishes and raw materials for home textiles (table linens kitchen pillows ru...