Manager, Materials Development (Apparel)

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product development teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.

As Manager Materials Development Apparel you are a key contributor in the apparel material development process by ensuring the availability of materials (fabrics, trims and prints), which support the strategic marketing & design direction to enable commercial success. You will find and/or develop the right materials according to calendar timelines, target prices, sourcing policy, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the key contact and consultant for all material related questions for all internal interfaces
• Lead all cross-functional discussions related to materials topics, steer the material selection process and drive material consolidation to improve efficiency

• Build and maintain a close relationship with internal and external interfaces such as Design, Creation Center Product Development, Material Sourcing, Quality and Suppliers
• Ensure availability and accuracy of materials data in internal administration system (technical data, cost, toolbox, lifecycle)
• Identify suitable sources for new material developments according to sourcing strategy and in line with garment allocation

• Interact and guide Tier 2 suppliers to translate the design vision into new, innovative material which meet commercial needs of the brand
• Initiate and monitor all seasonal material developments (work together with Tier 2 suppliers, Sourcing, Quality and Advanced Creation) and be responsible for initial material price negotiations with suppliers during development stage
• Ensure that all selected materials are tested and released by Materials Quality in accordance with applicable calendar timelines and adidas quality standards
• Cooperate with cross-functional team to create a focused material toolbox and provide guidance on how to improve material efficiencies
• Continuously improvement through regular consolidation and verification of materials library for cross functional communities, enforce material sharing where possible
• Provide latest information/research on material trends to the respective Business Units/ categories also by gathering input from internal stakeholders, fairs, supplier meetings, apparel material show etc.
• Responsible for working with horizontal teams to translate the innovation and sustainable concepts to Business plan in Business units.

Key Relationships

• Marketing

• Design
• Sourcing (incl. Quality)
• Product Operations (Product Development, Sustainability and Materials, Advanced Creation, Planning, Costing)
• Suppliers Tier 2
• Creation Center in Asia and North America

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Powerful communication and presentation skills
• Strong influencing skills and solution-oriented mindset
• Strong knowledge of the apparel creation process, identify and call out material related issues and offer alternatives to parties involved
• Good planning and organization skills, ability to multi-tasking
• English language proficiency required
• Strong IT skills (e-mail, MS office), ability to work with internal material database and reporting tool, preferably first experience in 3D creation process
• Continuous learning/growth mindset
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. 

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• College/ university degree or comparable degree/education in textile engineering or related field
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in material development or associated field

• adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. The working location of this position is Portland, Oregon.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.

adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.