Senior Manager of Materials

About the role

We're looking for a highly driven Senior Manager of Materials based near Denver, CO who thrives on building exceptional product experiences through performance knit and woven materials.

Responsibilities

• Fabric Engineering: 40% - Clearly communicate consumer needs and pain points to mills, and support associated material development efforts in a hands-on capacity to ensure material experience and quality standards are exceeded.
• Fabric Engineering: 40% - Partner with mills to coordinate and manage performance testing plans and material quality standards for new and existing materials to drive consistency and improvement in quality and performance.
• Fabric Engineering: 40% - Manage seasonal material development including new colors and prints, manage and comment on lab dips, in partnership with internal and external resources, participate in design reviews.
• Sourcing: 30% - Source, qualify, cost, and lead the development of high performance knit and woven fabrics, technical yarns, fibers, and membranes with high tech textile mills.
• Sourcing: 30% - Forge productive mill relationships through collaboration, communication, and articulating experience goals and the why behind development initiatives.
• Sourcing: 30% - Ability to qualify mills based on technical and process competencies.
• Sourcing: 30% - Ability to engage in precosting and negotiate new development cost with suppliers.
• Quality: 20% - Conduct quality assurance through bulk production reviews of color, appearance, and handfeel.
• Quality: 20% - Contribute to the development and upkeep of quality manuals for mills.
• Innovation: 10% - Partner with finished goods and material suppliers to develop innovative material and construction capabilities and introduce new material concepts that support product development and business goals.

Qualifications

• Must Have:
• - 8-10 years of experience in technical material development, specifically with performance knits and wovens for the athletic, outdoor, or tactical industries.
• - Expertise in performance attributes (e.g., moisture management, dry rates, waterproof/breathable ratings, durability testing) and the corresponding testing methodologies (e.g., ASTM, ISO, NFPA, AATC standards).
• - Proven ability to translate user experience goals into technical fabric specifications and manage complex development timelines with global vendors.
• - Ability to analyze trade-offs between aesthetic, performance, and functional attributes of materials.
• - Ability to understand and articulate root cause of a material experience at the fiber and material construction level.
• - Experience partnering with and managing overseas suppliers, vendors, factories, and resources.
• - Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally on a quarterly basis.
• Preferred:
• - Innate level of handiness and understanding of our consumer’s work, with an ability to communicate in their language and “talk trades”; capable of jumping in on the job site.
• - Proven success in managing material and trim development projects against timelines to stay on track with seasonal delivery schedules.
• - Experience with PLM systems and project management methodologies (we use Backbone).
• - Experience with laminating/bonding processes for outerwear.
• - Degree in Textile Science/Engineering or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical (HDHP & PPO options) and dental plans
• Optional vision, pet, accident, cancer, critical illness, and hospitalization insurance
• Company-sponsored life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• Affordable coverage for dependents and domestic partners
• HSA with monthly employer contribution
• FSA, dependent care, and commuter spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (free mental health, financial, and legal counseling)
• Professional development reimbursement program
• Volunteer and community-building opportunities
• 401(k) with company match
• Monthly hybrid work stipend
• Hybrid work environment (with great snacks!)
• Annual performance bonus
• Unlimited PTO policy and paid company holidays

Additional Information

TRUEWERK is committed to providing fair and competitive compensation through a combination of base salary and performance-based bonuses. Other benefits include but are not limited to: