Materials Manager, Leathergoods and Shoes

Company Description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through:
Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

The Materials Manager will oversee the development and execution of materials for Leather Goods and Shoes, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure materials meet design intent, quality standards, cost targets, and sourcing requirements. Working closely with Design, Product Management, Global Sourcing, Product Integrity, and Raw Materials teams, this role supports the material development process from concept through production while helping drive innovation, consistency, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate brings strong leather and material development experience, excellent organizational and project management skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. They are a collaborative team player who can build strong partnerships, solve problems proactively, and contribute to the successful execution of seasonal product initiatives. The Product Management Manager will report to the Head of Product Management and Category Sourcing for Leather goods and Shoes.

• Drive the identification and adoption of materials, leather, and finishes through market research, industry engagement, and trend analysis.
• Deliver competitive intelligence and strategic material recommendations to support product and sourcing decisions.
• Lead seasonal material development programs in partnership with global sourcing teams to meet product, quality, and cost objectives.
• Manage material sampling and prototype support to ensure timely product development execution.
• Establish material cost benchmarks and pricing parameters through historical analysis and collaboration with Category Management.
• Ensure all material developments meet Product Integrity, testing, compliance, and quality standards.
• Oversee material development workflows, maintaining accurate tracking of costs, lead times, MOQs, approvals, and development milestones.
• Troubleshoot with category manager and regional materials teams any material execution concerns during development and production.
• Lead color and print approval processes while maintaining comprehensive material reference libraries.
• Collaborate with Sustainability, Global Raw Materials, and Innovation teams to advance responsible sourcing and next‑generation material initiatives.
• Embed within the product team to build strong line knowledge and ensure clear alignment between materials and product needs, such as matching trim leather to body materials.
• Communication and coordination across categories to ensure alignments between Leather goods and Shoes
• Maintain Core article boards/references for brand team's reference
• PLM Navigation
  - Mill card, search, general access and navigation #LI-CE1

• Extensive experience in leather and materials development, product development, or a related field, with expertise in material sourcing and execution.
• Proven ability to build strong cross‑functional partnerships and influence stakeholders across Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, Product Integrity, and Global Sourcing organizations.
• Highly organized with exceptional project management capabilities, able to balance competing priorities while driving results.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills, with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office tools.
• Embodies Ralph Lauren's values and Cultural Focus Areas (CFAs), fostering collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Experience managing material development calendars, approvals, and vendor partnerships within a global sourcing environment.
• Ability to travel internationally 1-2 times a year. #LI-CE1