Footwear Material Lead (Senior)
In short
The Material Lead plays a pivotal role in ensuring that sourcing strategies align with business needs for one or more material categories. Reporting to the Head of Materials, Sourcing based in HCMC, this role focuses on fostering strong supplier relationships, ensuring supplier performance, and upholding the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. The Material Lead will drive material innovation, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to support product creation and manufacturing excellence.
Your Mission
- Leadership and Team Development:
- Build, lead, and train a high-performing materials team in alignment with the company’s design identity and technical excellence
- Foster a proactive and entrepreneurial team culture with an emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Lead and inspire materials specialists while nurturing people skills and cultivating a positive team environment
- Material Development and Innovation:
- Stay abreast of material science advancements, emerging technologies, and market trends to identify and develop innovative materials
- Research and partner with external organizations to explore new material opportunities
- Manage material development projects from concept to commercialization, ensuring quality, timeline, and cost targets are met
- Leverage expertise in material composition, production processes, and supply chains to influence vendor capabilities and inform strategic decisions
- Supplier Management and Collaboration:
- Build and maintain robust relationships with material suppliers, ensuring alignment with sourcing strategies, quality, and sustainability goals
- Partner with suppliers to drive efficiencies, optimize costs, and meet innovation targets
- Actively evaluate supplier performance and take actions to ensure continuous improvement
- Onboard new suppliers while aligning them with sustainability and operational guidelines
- Quality Assurance and Testing:
- Oversee rigorous material testing processes to meet industry and brand standards
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address material-related issues and implement corrective measures
- Ensure compliance with regulations and brand sustainability standards while enhancing footwear performance through material excellence
- Sustainability and Circular Economy:
- Drive sustainability initiatives by integrating eco-friendly materials and circular economy practices
- Partner with sustainability teams to set goals, track progress, and contribute to sustainability reporting
- Engage with industry groups to stay informed on and influence sustainability advancements
- Strategic Planning and Execution:
- Develop and implement strategic plans for material consolidation to improve efficiency while maintaining a resilient supply base
- Research and analyze competitor products, market trends, and new business categories to inform material strategies
- Support decision-making processes by creating detailed reports and strategic recommendations for the Head of Materials
- Draft, verify, and control agile material development structures to shorten processes and improve product quality
