Sr. Manager - Materials & Trims

SENIOR MATERIALS MANAGER

REPORTS TO: VP OF SOURCING

STATUS: EXEMPT

 

BOOT BARN OVERVIEW

Boot Barn is where the community comes first. We thrive on togetherness, collaboration, and belonging. We build each other up, listen intently, and implement out-of-the-box ideas. We celebrate new innovations, congratulate one another’s achievements, and most importantly support each other.

 

At Boot Barn, we work together to make a positive impact on the world around us, and by working collectively with encouragement, we consider ourselves “Partners.” With the values of the West guiding us, Boot Barn celebrates heritage, welcomes all, and values each unique Partner within our Boot Barn community.

 

Our vision is to offer everyone a piece of the American spirit – one handshake at a time.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

This role is responsible for executing our Exclusive Brands global strategic material and trim strategies driving product vision to commercialization. This role will partner with Design, Product Development and Sourcing to successfully implement our brand portfolios aesthetic, quality, cost, margin, and on-time delivery to maintain and elevate our high product standards.

 

The Senior Material Manager collaborates with our Boot Barn Vendor Partner Community and will develop strong partnerships with the mill base to drive our key metrics. Collaboration is key with our cross functional departments such as Merchandising, Planning, Design, Product Development + Sourcing. The ideal candidate brings expert knowledge of strategic global material/trim sourcing, strong negotiation skills and a solid track record of building excellent partnership with factories and mills. This role requires international travel for up to 14 days at a time in multiple countries of origin up to 35% of the year.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• In partnership with design’s seasonal concepts, initiate research and development of new trends in fabrics and trims
• Attend trade shows/fabric fairs and research trends to present innovation and newness to design
• Communicate seasonal concepts on brand aesthetics and fabric trends with vendors and mills
• On-board new mills and manage direct relationships with mills/suppliers focusing on innovation, quality, price, delivery, COO risk mitigation
• Resolve issues in the fabric and trim development life cycle to ensure that all production materials meet brand standards/regulatory compliance testing protocols
• Negotiate fabric and trim price with mills/suppliers on nominated fabrics/trims.
• Counter source vendor sourced/nominated fabric/trims as needed
• Build and manage a supplier matrix for fabric and trims based on needs, capabilities, and COO.
• Monitor the supplier’s performance with yearly scorecard
• Align and standardize the fabric from development through to production – build a library of standards/innovation
• Trouble shoot fabric/trim production issues with sourcing/QA manager
• Partner with Sourcing for fabric and/or trim positioning with mills and the reconciliation of usage

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Textiles, or related field
• 15+ years of experience with large scale, high-volume global apparel sourcing with demonstrated success in managing complex vendor/mill/supplier networks, countries of origin, and in region travel experience EMEA, APAC, LATAM, NA
• Vast knowledge and working experience with textile development, trims, garment construction, and category-specific product including complex categories such as Denim and Outerwear (high technology-performance experience a plus)
• Excellent negotiation skills with a track record of achieving cost savings without compromising product quality or timelines
• Proficient with PLM, ERP software, Microsoft Office Suite; Advanced Excel, and experience with data analytics tools (BI) a plus
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced, deadline driven environment
• Ability to travel a minimum of 35% to visit vendors, mills and production facilities when requested
• Excellent communication, customer service, time management and organizational skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to manage and develop talent

 

 

Competencies

• Customer Centric/Product Driven– Is attentive to our customers and understands our brand/product quality requirements
• Offers product options that are aligned with our brand ethos and design intent/direction
• Contin