Company Description
Vuori is re-defining what athletic apparel looks like: built to move and sweat in but designed with a casual aesthetic to transition into everyday life. We draw inspiration from an active coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, creative expression, and life. We aim to inspire others to take on all aspects of their lives with clarity, enthusiasm, and purposewhile having a lot of fun along the way. Working at Vuori, our goal is to create something special together. Our foundation and success are made possible thanks to incredible people, thriving culture, and an inspirational community.
Job Description
As Director, Material Development, Color, Trims, you will lead, manage, and execute the seasonal material, trim and color development processes, utilizing advanced and innovative product relevant materials, processes, and knowledge. You will manage a passionate material/trim/color team from concept through commercialization to deliver products that exceed consumer expectations. Critical responsibilities include understanding technical yarns, base fabrications, cut and sew apparel manufacturing, fabric mill and wash processes as well as associated limitations, anticipating issues, problem solving, and timely resolution. You will be responsible for demonstrating innovative ideas around material and trim development processes, principles and standards that improve product performance, product value, while creating collaboration across product teams and providing guidance wherever necessary.
This role will report to our Sr. Director, Innovation based in Taipei with key touch points across our design, development, production and vendor teams.
Qualifications
What you'll get to do:
- People first leadership; nurture the strength and talents of the individuals and build a team committed to achieving common goals while integrating happiness and fun along the way.
- Manage the materials/trim/color seasonal development calendars and contribute to process evolution and execution.
- Engineer and drive material/trim/color development from HQ handover to final production and manage and guide the teams through the development process along each step.
- Responsible for demonstrating innovative ideas around material, trim and color development processes, principles, and standards that improve product performance, product value, while creating collaboration across product teams and providing guidance wherever necessary.
- Establish, report, and analyze department KPIs as the business evolves and change occurs (including but not limited to sustainability, costing, system accuracy, adoption rates, timelines, etc.).
- Partner with manufacturers on new techniques and technologies to ensure that products incorporate the functional, quality and aesthetic expectations of our end consumer.
- Manage and direct the maintenance of the reference library of approved textiles and trims; with marked approval dates and current technical spec/cost sheets.
- Deliver effective outcomes in performance textile and trim attributes to create a positive consumer experience and favorable product margins.
- Lead, develop, and coach the material, trim and color developers, promoting career development, and managing performance.
- Mentor the material development team and cross-functional partners on material construction, features, and benefits to enhance their knowledge to enable informed decisions to positively impact the garment.
- Work closely with the PLM, Design and Development Teams on the apparel line architecture to understand the projected development of the line and use this information to establish consistency in the line about performance and functional material attributes.
- Oversee coordination and alignment with Taipe innovation, fabric development and testing teams to ensure that all materials pass Vuoris commercialization process by the specified calendar dates.
- Collaborate with the Sustainability Manger to ensure material development alignment with seasonal waypoints and the long-term direction of the Vuori Sustainability Roadmap.
Who you are:
- Knowledge of how apparel industry businesses, strategies and the competition in the marketplace.Ability to use this knowledge to inform and influence strategies.
- Knowledge of Production trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, production cycle timeline, fabric and garment construction.
- Well versed in apparel industry and fabric manufacturing economics and operations management (i.e., lead-times, transit times, garment and fabric construction and apparel manufacturing operations)
- Analytical and Computer skills and knowledge and ability to obtain information from systems.
- Ability to influence across multiple functions/areas/geographies.
- Effective problem solving and negotiation skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to develop & implement strategies according to plans, monitor progress, and make the necessary adjustments to achieve objectives.
- Maintain a goal perspective; be culturally sensitive and aware (adjust personal style to different cultures)
- Negotiate skillfully and resolve conflict in tough situations; win concessions without damaging relationships.
- Create and maintain a positive environment that promotes high performance standards and attainment of goals.
- Previous people management and leadership experience.
- International and Domestic travel as needed up to 10% of the year.
Additional Information
Vuori is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
