RAW MATERIAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Raw Material R&D Lead drives the sourcing and development of yarns, fabrics, and trims across all product categories, bringing deep technical textile expertise and strong global mill relationships to support the brand's seasonal design vision. This is an individual contributor role that partners closely with Design, Product Development, and Production from initial concept through bulk production, ensuring every raw material meets quality, cost, and timing requirements. The right candidate has direct, hands-on experience working for an apparel/fashion brand. 

This role reports to the VP of Product Development; based in the Anaheim, CA corporate office with domestic and international travel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Material Sourcing & Development

• Source new yarns, fabrics, trims, and raw materials globally while keeping the design team's vision at the center of every decision
• Evaluate and develop both woven fabrics and yarn and knit materials
• Source and develop high-quality trims that fit the brand's seasonal vision
• Bring new innovation and techniques across all raw material categories

Technical Development & Quality

• Apply technical knowledge of knitting, yarns, textiles, and trim development — including knit stitches, knit gauge, and yarn sizing — to guide sourcing and development decisions
• Manage testing of new fabrics, knits, and trims, and collect proper data to support development decisions
• Manage seasonal color lab dipping, printing, and special weave requests

Mill & Vendor Relationships

• Develop and maintain relationships with mills and vendors worldwide, leveraging expertise in the global yarn and textile mill landscape
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and lead times with suppliers
• Attend trade shows domestically and overseas to source new materials and identify innovations

Cross-Functional Partnership & Administration

• Partner with Design, Product Development, and Production throughout all stages of development through bulk
• Maintain seasonal budgets and reports, and manage physical and digital fabric/trim libraries
• Maintain calendar timing to ensure on-schedule development
• Resolve material-related challenges as they arise

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The following are the minimum qualifications needed to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

• 3-5 years of direct, hands-on experience in yarn, fabric, and/or trim sourcing and development within apparel or textile manufacturing
• Must have technical knowledge of knitting, yarns, textiles, and trim development, including knit stitches, knit gauge, and yarn sizing, across both woven weaves and knit fabrics
• Expertise in global yarn and textile mills, with established vendor relationships
• Proven ability to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and lead times with vendors
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple seasonal timelines simultaneously
• Degree or diploma in textile/knit engineering, fashion, or a related field preferred, or equivalent work experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Communication: Ability to effectively communicate with internal teams, vendors, and mill partners; ability to accurately process and complete documentation, reports, and testing data.
• Manual Dexterity: Ability to handle yarn, fabric, and trim samples; operate computer and office equipment.
• Mobility: Ability to move within an office, design studio, and mill/factory environment, including sample rooms and libraries.
• Lifting: Ability to lift and carry sample materials, yarn cones, and fabric rolls up to 25 pounds.
• Vision: Close vision and color discrimination required to evaluate yarn, fabric, and trim quality.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Travel: Regular domestic and international travel to trade shows, mills, and vendor facilities based on the seasonal calendar.
• Setting: Primarily an office/design studio environment; occasional exposure to factory or mill environments with machinery noise.
• Schedule: Standard business hours, with flexibility required around trade show schedules and seasonal deadlines.

Our Commitment: St. John is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At-Will Employment: Employment with St. John is at-will. The Company reserves the right to modify job responsibilities or reassign positions at any time to meet the evolving needs of the business.

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