Manager, Materials and Product Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

At Rhone, we cultivate a work culture that is empowering and rooted in our core values. We are gritty, approaching challenges with resilience and determination. We are responsible, holding ourselves accountable to each other and the work we do. We strive for excellence, pushing boundaries to deliver our best every day. We remain authentic, embracing honesty, humility, and individuality. And above all, we are team centered, knowing that true success comes from collaboration and shared purpose.

About The Role

Rhone is seeking a Manager of Materials and Product Compliance to support the development, qualification and commercialization of materials while strengthening product compliance across the business.

This hybrid role combines hands-on fabric development with responsibility for ensuring that Rhone products meet applicable legal, chemical, safety, labeling and performance requirements. The successful candidate will work cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Production, Sourcing, Sustainability and external suppliers, mills and testing laboratories.

The role requires strong textile knowledge, disciplined project management and the ability to translate regulatory and technical requirements into clear, commercially workable solutions.

What You'll Do

Material Development and Commercialization

• Manage assigned fabric developments from initial brief through testing, approval and bulk commercialization.

• Translate design, aesthetic, performance, cost and sustainability objectives into clear technical development briefs for mills and suppliers.

• Partner with Design and Product Development to identify suitable material platforms for each product, activity and intended end use.

• Develop and maintain seasonal material development plans, including submission dates, testing, wearer trials, approvals and production readiness.

• Evaluate fabric submissions for hand feel, appearance, construction, weight, stretch and recovery, durability, color performance and overall fitness for purpose.

• Coordinate laboratory testing and wearer trials, review results and lead corrective action where materials do not meet requirements.

• Support material innovation projects, balancing consumer benefit with commercial viability, scalability and supply-chain risk.

• Drive materials through defined development and commercialization gates, ensuring approvals and outstanding risks are clearly documented.

• Partner with mills and suppliers to resolve technical challenges relating to construction, yarn, finishing, shade continuity, quality and performance.

• Support material costing, minimum-order negotiations, lead-time planning and supplier allocation decisions.

• Confirm that approved development standards can be consistently reproduced in bulk production.

• Maintain accurate material specifications, testing records, approvals and supporting documentation within Rhone’s systems.

• Identify opportunities to consolidate material platforms, reduce unnecessary development, improve adoption and minimize waste.

• Monitor supplier performance against quality, cost, delivery, technical capability and service expectations.

Product Compliance

• Support the implementation and ongoing management of Rhone’s product compliance program.

• Maintain current knowledge of applicable product regulations and standards in Rhone’s existing and planned markets.

• Translate regulatory requirements into practical product, material, testing, labeling and documentation requirements.

• Manage product compliance requirements relating to:

• Chemical restrictions and restricted substances

• Product safety and performance

• Fiber-content, care and country-of-origin labeling

• Flammability and other category-specific requirements

• PFAS and other regulated substances

• Product and sustainability claims

• Cotton and raw-material traceability

• Required certifications and supplier declarations

• Assign the appropriate testing and compliance pathway according to product category, material, end use and market.

• Review laboratory reports, certificates and technical documentation for completeness, accuracy and compliance.

• Work with approved third-party laboratories to define testing protocols, resolve technical questions and monitor testing completion.

• Assess test failures and compliance risks, coordinating investigation, corrective action and escalation before production or shipment.

• Maintain compliance records, approval status and supporting evidence required for product release.

• Support supplier onboarding and education regarding Rhone’s testing, documentation, traceability and compliance expectations.

• Partner with Sustainability and Sourcing to ensure environmental and social considerations are integrated into material and supplier decisions.

• Support internal and external audits, regulatory inquiries and document requests when required.

• Monitor emerging regulations and communicate potential business impact, implementation timelines and recommended actions.

• Ensure marketing and product claims are supported by appropriate evidence before use.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as a technical partner to Design, Product Development, Production, Sourcing and Sustainability.

• Provide clear, timely recommendations that balance product integrity, consumer expectations, compliance, cost and speed to market.

• Establish clear owners, actions and completion dates for material and compliance risks.

• Escalate significant quality, compliance, delivery or commercial risks with supporting facts and recommended solutions.

• Build effective working relationships with mills, garment suppliers, testing laboratories and specialist consultants.

• Contribute to the continued development of Rhone’s material standards, testing manual, supplier requirements and product-integrity processes.

What You'll Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Technology, Materials Science, Apparel, Product Development, Product Compliance or a related discipline.

• Approximately 5–8 years of relevant experience in apparel materials, textile development, product compliance or product integrity.

• Strong technical knowledge of knitted and woven fabrics, fibers, yarns, fabric construction, dyeing, finishing and performance treatments.

• Demonstrated experience managing fabric development from concept through bulk commercialization.

• Working knowledge of apparel testing methods, laboratory reports and performance standards.

• Experience with restricted-substance requirements, chemical compliance, labeling and consumer-product regulations.

• Understanding of material traceability, responsible sourcing and environmental compliance requirements.

• Experience working directly with global mills, garment suppliers and third-party testing laboratories.

• Strong analytical, organizational and project-management skills.

• Ability to evaluate technical information and communicate clear commercial recommendations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and product lifecycle management systems; Centric PLM experience is preferred.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally when required.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation

• Health, dental, vision, and ancillary benefits

• 401(k) with company incentive savings plan

• 10 company holidays annually

• Discretionary time off policy

• Career growth and advancement opportunities

• Clothing discount plus semi-annual gift card allotment

Other Details

Job Type: Full Time

Reports to: Sr. Director of Product Development, Materials, & Innovation

Location: Onsite - Based in Stamford, CT 

Our Commitment

Rhone Apparel, Inc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status.