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Director Material Development -Product Operations (m/f)
Adidas Group
Herzogenaurach, , Germany
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Director Material Development FW - Originals & Core Product Operations (m/f)
Purpose
Lead and drive the material (leather/textile/synthetic and trims) development or sourcing for footwear products for in-line production and various fashion labels according to creation timelines, target prices, sourcing policy and quality standards. Lead and drive the creation and adherence to material toolboxes, quality standards as well as material availability and the usage of material leftovers.
Key Accountabilities
• Material trend scouting & development:
◦ Manage key parameters of the material business e.g. material price and lead time negotiations.
◦ Lead research of material trends and innovations and presentation of market-relevant materials/trims concepts to x-functional teams at season’s start ensuring cohesive material stories across footwear.
◦ Act as the source for industry-leading material concepts and future ideas
◦ Build up and maintain contact with T1 and T2 suppliers (materials and trims) for constant R&D of new leathers/materials and trims.
◦ Ensure innovation flow from T1 and T2 (materials and trims suppliers) to Design, Development, Business Mgmt./Product Marketing.
◦ Act as the x-functional go-to person for all material-related questions.
◦ Initiate and monitor all material developments or purchases.
◦ Oversee maintenance/updates of materials/trims data in internal data systems (FlexPLM).
• Material Toolbox Management:
◦ Lead the selection, development or buying of materials which provide commercial success and support multiple creation processes and timelines in parallel.
◦ Manage the creation and maintenance of Fashion label-specific material and trim toolboxes jointly with Design.
◦ Drive set-up and maintenance of a continuously evolving Fashion label-specific material library for x-functional teams to easily select new materials to complement specific seasonal or in-season needs.
◦ Create & execute a strategy to promote opportunities for actively increasing material commonality across fashion labels to the x-functional team.
◦ Train and educate x-functional team on all material-related topics.
◦ Drive consistent monitoring of all material-related questions such as fabric/trim booking, delivery status, lab dips, lead times, testing, quality issues during sampling and production.
• Material Availability/Risk Management:
◦ Translate the design vision into materials development and source materials according to the Fashion sourcing policy and quality standards.
◦ Advise Fashion Operations Management, Product Development and Marketing Operations promptly about any material availability.
◦ Create and maintain transparency with regards to leftovers (tracking)
◦ Pro-actively look for available/existing stock for in-season response to trends or needs from Own Retail (spot buying).
• Material Quality Management:
◦ Act as the x-functional go-to person for all fashion material quality related questions.
◦ Ensure the uploading of test reports on to FlexPLM for all materials (leathers/textiles & trims) for footwear in a timely manner.
◦ Spot-check the scope of tests conducted by T1 and T2 suppliers are correct in line with fashion testing requirements.
◦ Review & assess material test reports and advise T1 and T2 suppliers on technical know-how so as to further improve material quality as needed.
◦ Oversee the test report approval process, approve/reject or commercially approve materials as required.
• People Management
◦ Provide global Fashion Materials team members across Creation Centers with clear direction, priorities and targets aligned with business and GOPS objectives.
◦ Create a work environment in which employees are challenged, coached, trained and provided with career opportunities.
Knowledge, Capabilities and Experience
• Strong feeling for material aesthetics and “touch & feel”: Excellent material, construction and good trims knowledge
• Understanding of soling materials, and mould innovation/technoloogy
• In-depth understanding of the material supply chain (planning, allocation and production)
• Business Mindset: Strong numerical and analytical skills, feeling for economics behind materials and strong ability to negotiate
• Passionate about product, with in-depth understanding of products in the lifestyle/Fast Fashion environment and, therefore, an understanding what the offer should be
• Pro-active (engaging & impact-oriented) mindset, willingness to take risks on decisions
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with different international cultures
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
• Language skills: fluent in English, some basic German helpful
• IT skills: MS Office mandatory, PLM system knowledge preferred
Qualifications
1. 4-year college or university degree with emphasis on leather/material technology and/or manufacturing; textile engineering or textile commercial background
2. Minimum 8 years of progressive work experience in the garment/textile industry
3. Minimum 2 – 3 years of experience in managing a team
4. Preferably, experience in the lifestyle/fashion environment, e.g. a big vertical fashion retail chain