Director of R&D (Research & Development)

Innovation & Product Development

Lead R&D strategy across categories, identifying new materials, fabrics, trims, techniques, and construction methods that elevate the brand.
Research and develop new product concepts from ideation through production readiness.
Partner with Design to translate creative vision into technically sound, manufacturable products.
Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and material innovations.

Fabric, Materials & Testing

Oversee fabric and material research, testing, and approval processes.
Collaborate with mills, vendors, and suppliers to develop exclusive or custom materials.
Ensure all materials meet quality, performance, and compliance standards.
Support sustainability initiatives through responsible material sourcing and innovation.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as a key liaison between Design, Production, Sourcing, Merchandising, and Quality teams.
Align R&D timelines with seasonal calendars and production milestones.
Support cost engineering and margin goals while maintaining design integrity.
Troubleshoot technical challenges and propose solutions throughout development.

Process & Systems

Establish and refine R&D workflows, documentation, and development standards.
Build seasonal boards for merch review and other cross functional presentation.
Build scalable processes that support growth while maintaining quality and creativity.
Manage development libraries (fabrics, trims, techniques, testing results).