Senior Developer, Materials Sourcing, Technical

Job description

Role & Responsibilities: As part of the Global Material Sourcing (GMS) Team , the Technical Material Developer will execute the GMS FTW material development activities that service all FTW brands , with a focus on supporting the needs of technical and functional footwear . This role is the technical fabric engineering partner for Brand/Product teams and suppliers, responsible for translating end-use performance requirements into engineered textile solutions (fiber/yarn selection, knit/weave/warp-knit structures, finishing/lamination/coatings, and functional chemistries) and for driving material construction readiness for commercialization. The individual is responsible for managing and overseeing footwear material development and pre-production activities. The role will operationally connect with Brands, Sourcing Development, Sourcing Operations, Material Quality and Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability teams, and external materials suppliers. Frequent influential communication to external partners and VF management is required. Key Result Areas: Support the development of FTW materials through the go-to-market calendar to ensure all milestones are timely met, including construction lock , testing sign-off, and factory readiness. Act as a key liaison for Product Development across all brands and partner with Innovation teams and Global Material Sourcing leadership on material engineering priorities that support all manufacturing regions . Proactively identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers with strong fabric engineering , construction, and innovation capabilities (fiber/yarn platforms, knitting/weaving/warp-knit, finishing, lamination/coating, and functionalization) to expand VFs technical footwear material ecosystem. Provide fabric engineering leadership to enable informed trade-offs (weight, stretch/recovery, abrasion, breathability, water management, durability, cost, and manufacturability), and to align the material package to technical performance and construction compatibility . Define and maintain engineered material specifications (BOM inputs, construction parameters, critical-to-quality characteristics, and tolerance windows) and ensure supplier submissions meet spec intent through development and pre-production. Partner cross-functionally with VF Materials Labs, Sourcing and Quality teams to manage material testing, validation, and functional performance assessment , including test plan definition, results interpretation, and readiness sign-off for factory adoption. Lead/support failure analysis and root-cause investigation of fabric-related issues (construction, finishing, lamination, delamination, pilling, colorfastness, seam/slip, stretch/recovery, coating performance) and drive corrective actions with labs, suppliers, and factories. Support material cost negotiation tactics against set costing targets by utilizing fact-based methodology and by linking cost drivers to engineered construction choices in supplier-facing discussions. Support material supply-chain strategy by mapping supplier capabilities, capacity, lead times, and risk considerations across regions where we manufacture footwear, with attention to process capability and quality risk for technical constructions. Actively support sustainable material roadmaps through identification of supplier capabilities, capacities, and innovative, lower-impact yarn/fiber and fabric alternatives . Behavioral Competencies - High EQ in working with cross function/cultural partners Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) Optimistic and dare to take calculated risks Team player and the ability to work independently Bold and creative thinking Competent in managing relationships with suppliers and internal business partners Able to work under pressure with multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines Functional Competencies Advanced knowledge of synthetic fibers, yarns, and engineered fabric construction (fiber chemistry, filament vs. spun, yarn formation/texturing, denier/decitex, ply/twist, shrinkage/heat-set behavior) and how these variables impact performance. Fabric construction engineering : ability to define/interpret key construction parameters (e.g., gauge, courses/wales, stitch architecture, warp-knit structures, weave patterns, GSM, cover factor, porosity, stretch/recovery) and to specify them for repeatable commercialization. Strong understanding of fabric manufacturing and finishing processes (knitting/weaving/warp-knit, dyeing/printing, heat-setting, brushing/sanding, calendaring, bonding/lamination, coatings/membranes, and functional chemistries) and the ability to translate end-use requirements into manufacturable specifications. Test method literacy and performance validation : able to align on test plans, interpret results and variability, and connect results back to construction/process drivers to enable engineering decisions and sign-off. Technical troubleshooting / root-cause capability : investigate fabric-related failures and drive corrective actions across fiber/yarn, construction, finishing, and lamination/coating processes in partnership with labs, mills, and factories. Supplier technical capability assessment : able to evaluate and compare mills/vendors for fabric engineering depth, process controls, innovation maturity, and scalability for commercialization. General knowledge and understanding of FTW constructions and engineering techniques. Minimum Relevant Experience: Experience in Apparel, Footwear, Equipment materials and/or Sourcing and Supply Chain organizations, with demonstrated exposure to engineered textiles / performance fabrics and supplier development in knit/weave/warp-knit and finishing processes. R-20260526-0017