Manager, Materials Development; MLS Apparel

POSITION OVERVIEW

At adidas, we never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product creation teams bring together creativity, craftsmanship, technical expertise, and commercial insight to transform design concepts into products that perform for athletes and connect with consumers around the world.

As Manager, Materials Development (MLS Apparel), you are a key contributor to the apparel material development process. You ensure the availability of fabrics, trims, and prints that support strategic marketing and design direction while meeting calendar timelines, target costs, sourcing policies, and adidas quality standards.

You will lead material selection and development in close partnership with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality, Advanced Creation, and suppliers. You will translate creative direction into commercially viable material solutions while driving consolidation, efficiency, innovation, and sustainability across the development process.

This role is strategically important to delivering the material capabilities required to support the MLS Apparel business. Through strong supplier partnerships, material expertise, and cross-functional leadership, you will help enable innovative, high-quality products that support brand and business objectives.

• Material Leadership:
  Serve as the key contact and consultant for material-related topics across internal teams and external partners.
• Material Selection:
  Lead cross-functional material discussions, steer the selection process, and drive material consolidation to improve efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  Build strong relationships with Design, Product Development, Material Sourcing, Quality, Advanced Creation, Sustainability, Planning, Costing, and other key stakeholders.
• Supplier Development:
  Partner with Tier 2 suppliers to translate design vision into innovative materials that meet creative, technical, quality, and commercial requirements.
• Material Sourcing:
  Identify suitable sources for new material developments in alignment with sourcing strategy and garment allocation.
• Seasonal Development:
  Initiate and monitor seasonal material developments with suppliers and cross-functional partners to deliver against calendar milestones.
• Cost Management:
  Lead initial material price negotiations with suppliers during the development stage while balancing cost targets, quality, and product requirements.
• Quality Assurance:
  Ensure selected materials are tested and released by Materials Quality according to applicable timelines and adidas quality standards.
• Material Data:
  Maintain the availability and accuracy of material information within internal systems, including technical data, cost, toolbox, and lifecycle information.
• Material Efficiency:
  Partner with cross-functional teams to build focused material toolboxes, increase material sharing, and improve material utilization across the organization.
• Library Management:
  Continuously consolidate and verify material libraries to improve accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency for cross-functional teams.
• Trend Research:
  Provide relevant material trend insights through internal stakeholder input, trade fairs, supplier meetings, material shows, and industry research.
• Innovation and Sustainability:
  Partner with horizontal teams to translate innovation and sustainability concepts into actionable business plans for applicable business units.

• College or university degree, or comparable education, in textile engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in material development or an associated field.
• Strong knowledge of the apparel creation process with the ability to identify material-related issues and recommend viable alternatives.
• Strong communication, presentation, and influencing skills with a solution-oriented approach.
• Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and seasonal timelines.
• Proficiency in English, the working language of adidas.
• Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office, email, internal material databases, and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated continuous learning and growth mindset.

• Experience supporting apparel material development within a global product creation organization.
• Experience working directly with Tier 2 material suppliers and cross-functional sourcing and quality teams.
• Experience with material costing, supplier negotiations, and seasonal development calendars.
• Exposure to 3D product creation processes and related digital tools.
• Experience translating innovation and sustainability concepts into commercially viable material solutions.

This position is based in Portland, Oregon and follows the adidas hybrid work policy. Employees are expected to work in the office Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Friday. In-office attendance may also be required on Fridays for work involving a high degree of…