Manager, Apparels Materials Development (Co-locations)

Purpose

Key player in leading the research, development, and sourcing of innovative textiles and materials for our apparel collections. This role is the bridge to connect the design, sustainability, and performance, ensuring our products meet aesthetic, functional, and environmental standards. 

Key Responsibilities

• Material Innovation & Research
• Research and develop new fabrics, trims, and finishes aligned with adidas's vision, briefs, and seasonal direction.
• Build strong material & trim toolbox to elevate performance and aesthetics of the Sportswear categories.
• Seasonal analysis and competitor benchmarking of the material toolbox, and maintaining relevance and freshness to the industry trend and competition.
• Ensure successful commercialization and testing of selected materials, including timely buy-ready and signing off materials for smooth bulk production.
• Team Player
• Demonstrating optimism and displaying can-do attitude
• Translate creative concepts into tangible fabrics and trims.
• Collaborate with design, marketing, sourcing team, and stakeholders to select appropriate materials for each product.
• Provide material specifications, risk assessment, clearly listing out limitations and restrictions.
• Troubleshoot issues of delivery, compliance, and quality during sampling and bulk production.
• Supporting Materials Operations team and footwear co-creation team with ad-hoc assistance.
• Supplier Management
• Identify strong global suppliers by clearly understanding the capabilities and capacities to build strong material pool.
• Liaise with global suppliers to source and develop materials according to product allocation strategy, ensuring compliance with adidas’ quality and sustainability standards, including counter development in local T2 to support localization.
• Ensure top performance of materials, overseeing color approval and lab testing for durability, colorfastness, shrinkage, and other functional metrics.
• Communicate and negotiate lead times, minimums, and competitive cost.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Good communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across functions and regions. 
• Background in textile engineering, material science, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of material testing and performance standards.
• Experience in product development or sourcing within the apparel industry is an advantage.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Passion for sustainability and innovation.
• Proficient in Microsoft office, Analytics, and ERP/MRP a plus. Able to work on adidas material and development systems.