Vans: Senior Developer, Apparel Materials

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.  

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Sr. Developer, Apparel Materials at Vans looks a little like this.

You will drive material development and process advancement that supports the needs of the Vans Apparel team with a focus on Textiles (knits and wovens). You will also have the opportunity to develop advancements within sustainable materials for the overall apparel line and materials library. You will assist the Vans apparel team with seasonal and sustainable materials/technologies by developing and sourcing new trend materials along with VF GMS team and nominated VF suppliers. You will lead the introduction of new seasonal material developments/technologies and provide assistance to design and development throughout the product development cycle. You have a passion and curiosity to research and develop solutions for the future of sustainable materials and processes as related to apparel product.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Source and develop seasonal trend materials and technologies (with a focus on Textiles, Knit, Wovens, Sustainability) that support apparel performance needs and provide solutions to overall project and material strategies

• Identify and support the development of new seasonal trend materials including the optimization of manufacturing processes to enable the success of apparel projects
• Provide full technical and costing analysis of apparel material opportunities so that product-related decisions can be better informed to meet brand material strategies

• Create and maintain strategic external partnerships for material development with global players in the Textile (Knit, Woven) and Sustainable material industries

• Manage seasonal material developments, create Flex PLM material records, and  coordinate efforts with external materials suppliers while enlisting support from our global VF Supply Chain counterparts (GMS, Apparel Sourcing)

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 5-7+ years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Experience in textile development preferred, specifically knits and wovens
• Excellent PC skills
• Proficient skills using Flex PLM or related software
• Strong written and verbal communication and analytical skills  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively, work with minimal supervision
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work across all levels of the VF organization 
• Experience working with global operations and cultures

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.

• A formal education or background in textile, material science, or a related field

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who