Vans: Developer, Materials Innovation

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 an Innovation Materials Developer at Vans looks a little like this.

This role works closely with our internal material and product development teams plus our VF Supply Chain team in Asia. Innovation material development sits in our Costa Mesa CA headquarters and reports into the Director of Materials Development, Innovation and Sustainability.

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

·         Lead material development and process advancement that support the needs of Vans with a focus on Textiles and Polymers for use in footwear and apparel

·         Assists Vans with innovative new materials/technologies by developing new material options and creating/optimizing manufacturing processes

·         Leads the introduction of new material developments/technologies and provides assistance to Product Creation through the product development cycle

·         Search out new innovative materials and technologies from non-footwear industries to translate and inspire new footwear and apparel material platforms

·         Conducts research and development with external partners to create new innovative materials that meet the needs of Vans’ innovation strategy

·         Mediates and finds solutions to improve high-impact environmental materials and processes

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 Material Science or related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 3-5 years of experience and professional achievements

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

·         Material Science degree preferred with 3+ years of related experience in textile and/or polymer development

·         Strong presentation skills and proficiency using PowerPoint, SmartSheet, Excel, and other 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.

·         Experience working with global operations and cultures

• Experience managing external relationships with chemical, polymer companies plus technology start-ups

• In depth knowledge of sustainability and sustainable material solutions

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you