Senior Director, Materials Development, Materials Library & Innovation​

ABOUT YOUR ROLE:

We are seeking an innovative and strategic Senior Director, Materials Development, Materials Library & Innovation, Apparel to lead the development, management and transformation of our materials platform across seven dynamic apparel brands.  This role is central to driving excellence in sourcing, sustainability, and digital enablement, whilst living our core values: Consumer Focused, Trust & Integrity, Growth Mindset, Winning together and Extreme Accountability.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Include but not limited to;

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND SOURCING

• Own and lead the global sourcing strategy for all apparel materials across 7 brands, aligning materials platforms with brand direction, functional performance needs, cost targets and calendar milestones
• Negotiate seasonal material costs and terms with mills and suppliers to ensure best-in- class value and agility
• Leverage cross brand volume and global supplier base to deliver cost efficiencies and maximise mill capabilities

• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships while continuously evaluating sourcing risk and opportunity
• Serve as the chair of the Materials Community of Practice, driving shared knowledge and innovation across apparel, footwear and equipment – creating and governing a One VF process that strategically aligns with the savings target in the Materials value pool.
• Create and drive the sourcing strategy for all materials working with the Sourcing Leaders for each brand and create the direction for supplier localisation where appropriate

MATERIALS LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Create the new materials library function and activities to manage the lifecycle of materials from concept to retirement, ensuring timely onboarding of new innovations and phase out of outdated or redundant materials
• Maintain and evolve the physical and digital materials library ensuring availability, accessibility and relevance across brands and teams
• Champion simplification and material re-use to reduce waste and support responsible material management.
• Implement data driven processes to optimise materials turnover and reduce complexity
• KPI Ownership and Operational Excellence
• Take Extreme accountability for key materials KPIs, cost savings, leadtime reduction, library utilisation and system efficiency
• Partner cross-functionally to streamline material on-boarding, testing, and commercialisation processes
• Continually seek process improvements, driven by data, stakeholder feedback and a Growth Mindset

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & INNOVATION

• Embrace the now by leading the creation and roll out of a robust digital materials library, enabling scalable end to end digital product creation
• Push boundaries in adopting new technologies, processes, and partnerships to meet evolving consumer expectations
• Stay ahead of material trends in innovation, sustainability, and technical performance to keep our brands at the forefront of the industry

TEAM AND STAKEHOLDER LEADERSHIP

• Lead and empower regional materials teams fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture focused on performance and purpose
• Build strong trusted relationships with brand and cross functional partners to align on priorities, solve challenges and win together

• Geographic Coverage & Frequency of Travel
• Team Management

WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:

• A strategic and hands-on leader with 10+years of experience in materials sourcing, development or management in the apparel industry
• Proven success in seasonal negotiation cycles and managing complex global supplier relationships
• Technically fluent in both performance and lifestyle materials with strong business acumen
• A connector and influencer who naturally aligns cross-functional teams and drives change

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US:

• A purpose -driven opportunity to transform how we source and manage materials across iconic global brands
• A platform to lead cross brand and cross category impact in a collaborative and forward thinking environment
• The ability to build the future of materials- digitally, sustainably and strategically
• Providing you with the best in class, work environment, well-being policies and work place flexibility that is about helping you show up and lean into life with your whole self – emotionally, physically and socially.

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