Senior Manager, Materials Research & Digital Enablement

About the role

We are seeking a forward-thinking materials leader who can bridge the world of traditional fabric research and development with the evolving landscape of digital product creation. This role sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, materials excellence, and technology—requiring deep fabric and material expertise alongside a vision for how materials will be developed, represented, and experienced in the future.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic connector between Materials R&D and Digital R&D teams, aligning physical fabric and material development with digital workflows, tools, and outputs.
• Conduct and drive woven performance fabric research and development to secure best-in-class sustainable material offerings in multiple regions.
• Collaborate with value-chain partners globally to build capabilities for current and next gen performance materials.
• Maintain and refine materials digitization processes, physical and digital material libraries, and AI-enabled product development workflows already in use at Ralph Lauren.
• Partner cross-functionally with Design, Merchandising, Product Management, Sourcing, Innovation, and Technology teams to embed digital thinking into materials development processes.
• Champion new tools, technologies, and ways of working that modernize how fabrics and materials are developed, visualized, managed, and utilized.
• Identify and incubate larger transformation opportunities, including hybrid physical/digital material platforms, immersive 3D experiences, and other hybrid methods of digital material development.
• Monitor emerging technologies and translate relevant developments into actionable opportunities for the organization while maintaining brand standards, craftsmanship, and materials excellence.

Requirements

• Experience in fabric development, material research, or textile innovation, with a strong foundation in textile construction, sourcing, fiber content, performance, and finishing techniques.
• Proven ability or strong interest in integrating fabric and material expertise with digital product creation tools and workflows, including 3D, digital libraries, and material digitization.
• Experience building or improving workflows, standards, libraries, or operational processes that support scalable execution.
• Strong aesthetic sensibility with a refined eye aligned to Ralph Lauren’s brand heritage, quality standards, and craftsmanship.
• Ability to balance technical precision with creativity and vision—comfortable both executing in detail and imagining what is possible next.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence across creative, technical, and operational teams.
• Curious, future-oriented mindset with a passion for evolving how materials are developed, represented, and experienced.
• Strong enterprise mindset with the ability to design and implement new multi-step processes that balance high level strategic needs with detailed understanding of how work is executed.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of success in similar roles.
• Advanced degree in Textile Engineering, Material Science, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in fabric development, material research, or textile innovation.
• Experience with digital product creation tools and workflows, including 3D, digital libraries, and material digitization.
• Strong understanding of sustainable materials and their applications.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of textile construction, sourcing, fiber content, performance, and finishing techniques.
• Strong ability to integrate fabric and material expertise with digital product creation tools and workflows.
• Experience in building or improving workflows, standards, libraries, or operational processes that support scalable execution.
• Excellent aesthetic sensibility aligned to Ralph Lauren’s brand heritage, quality standards, and craftsmanship.
• Ability to balance technical precision with creativity and vision.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence across creative, technical, and operational teams.
• Curiosity and a passion for evolving how materials are developed, represented, and experienced.
• Strong enterprise mindset with the ability to design and implement new multi-step processes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $85,000 - $161,444 annually.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Work-life balance with a supportive and inclusive culture.

Pay

• $85,000 - $161,444 annually

Schedule

• Full-time position