Director, Materials Innovation

Vuori is re-defining what athletic apparel looks like: built to move and sweat in but designed with a casual aesthetic to transition into everyday life. We draw inspiration from an active coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, creative expression and life. Our high energy fast paced retail environment is reflected in the clothes we make. We aim to inspire others to take on all aspects of their lives with clarity, enthusiasm and purpose…while having a lot of fun along the way. We are proud to be an outlet for opportunity and for personal growth and success.

The Director of Materials Innovation will lead the research, development and commercialization process  for Innovation as part of our Vuori’s Global Product team. You will provide creative, material-based solutions that meet consumer needs and sustainability challenges. You'll scope the fiber and fabric innovation landscape and report on emerging trends to the Design, Development and Materials teams. This position is equal parts investigation, creative problem solving and disciplined project management. As the Material Innovation Sr. Director, you will function as Product Innovation's communication conduit and technical liaison between our internal Product Team and our Mill/Vendor partners, driving the industrial actuation of new materials – from proof-of-concept to commercially-scaled programs. Cost negotiation of new innovation franchises, based on volume will also fall into your purview. 

What you'll get to do: 

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of our overall materiality, with up-to-date awareness of our fiber portfolio composition and our relative progress towards strategic material goals/commitments 
• Engage with vendors and mills bases to represent the needs of the Design & Innovation organization directly to our suppliers and collect their input for new material innovation opportunities 
• Provide practical guidance that balances Design's aspiration for sustainability, performance, and aesthetic quality against legitimate industrial constraints – viability, cost, supply, and product integrity 
• Provide debriefs after scoping activities to our Product Innovation team, and seasonal overviews of material innovation trends to the Design teams that align with Vuori’s Go To Market calendar 
• Schedule and maintain direct engagement with R&D counterparts at strategic mill partners to gain insights into their development pipelines and progress reports on important material work streams 
• Synthesize the collective inputs from the market and filter the information through our product aesthetic and innovation priorities to identify opportunities for "off the shelf" component solutions 
• Identify new suppliers and emerging technologies that demonstrate potential alignment with unmet innovation priorities and initiate R&D/ideation projects 
• Concept-to-market project management of a portfolio of material innovation initiatives 
• Support the launch and scale of total Product Innovation project pipeline through the oversight of Supply Chain-facing communication relating to material creation, development or procurement 
• Work with external partners to ensure all fabrications meet Vuori’s testing requirements 
• Builds a culture that drives simplification, eliminates redundant, non-value add work and streamlines process 
• Recruit, hire, retain and develop succession plan for team 

Who you are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing or equivalent years of experience preferred.  
• 12+ years of product development experience is required and/or product management experience with an understanding record of managing product from concept to completion.  
• Knowledge of fibers, yarns, and construction of materials; in addition to spinning, knitting, weaving and dyeing manufacturing processes is required  
• Advanced computer skills 
• Aptitude for systems and systematic work 
• Must possess strong knowledge of global apparel production, logistics, and coordination.  

Special Physical and/or Mental Requirements:  

• International and domestic travel required (up to 20%) including by air, ground and overnight 
• Bend, lift, open and move product and related office items varying in weight up to 25lbs, depending on need.  

Vuori is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.