Sr. Manager, Materials Sourcing & Library: Footwear, Equipment/Accessories

ABOUT YOUR ROLE:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager Materials Sourcing & Library to lead the creation, management and governance of a centralised Materials Library for the FW & EQ brands within VF, alongside the connected materials sourcing and development activity that feeds into it.

The Senior Manager Materials Sourcing & Library will be responsible for optimising materials selection, qualities, sourcing partnerships and library processes across VF FW & EQ brands. You will work hand-in-hand with FTW and EQP materials development teams to ensure the library is built from, and continuously informed by, the materials we source and qualify across our Tier 2 supplier base.

This role requires an experienced professional with in-depth technical knowledge in FW & EQ materials, sourcing and supplier management exposure, project management capabilities and data analytics. This role is instrumental in driving efficiency, enabling material leverage across regions and optimising material spend.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Include but not limited to

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

• Establish, operationalise and govern a centralised Global Materials Library across the FW, EQ. & ACC brands for VF

• Define and implement processes to rationalise material development requests and reduce redundancies

• Govern and maintain data attributes and metadata necessary to enable material consolidation and strategic leverage

• Lead seasonal and lifecycle core material reviews to evaluate relevance, usage and library optimisation

• Partner with Materials Sourcing leaders and Product Leaders within our brands to add or sunset material libraries based on business needs

• Create and publish the leveraged cost saving opportunity and measure quarterly that set targets are being met

MATERIALS SOURCING & LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Lead the FTW and EQP materials sourcing pillars -ensuring sourcing strategy & decisions align with cost objectives and brand calendars.

• Own seasonal negotiation cycles and Tier 2 supplier relationships across the FTW & EQP material base, in close partnership with category and brand sourcing leaders

• Ensure physical libraries reflecting VF brand material options are maintained in strategic global locations to support product teams and cross brand initiatives

• Manage the process of evaluating material qualities and performance to ensure alignment with sustainability, innovation and cost objectives

• Conduct periodic reviews to assess usage, overlaps and opportunities for consolidation

COLLABORATION AND STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Own recommendations to the Materials Development leaders in FW & EQ to standardise material needs and identifyleverage opportunities with Tier 2 suppliers

• Serve as the central point of contact for Material Development leaders and brand teams to access core materials and information.

DATA ANALYTICS AND PROCESS OPTIMISATION

• Create the appropriate data analytics platform needed, to track material utilisation, performance and cost efficiency

• Lead initiatives to digitise and streamline the material development and management process

• Collaborate with IT and digital innovation teams to maintain a robust material database system

TEAM AND STAKEHOLDER LEADERSHIP

• Lead and empower materials sourcing & library teams fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture focused on creating, driving and optimising materials sourcing staretgies and library. Supporting collaboration across regional teams, enabling personal growth and effective interactions to all stakeholder groups internal and external.

• Build strong trusted strategic partnerships with cross functional partners to align on priorities, solve challenges and win together

WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:

• You will be a materials expert with deep technical knowledge in materials, with strong analytical capabilities and project management experience

• You will be accountable for developing sourcing strategies and streamlining material selection, development and life cycle processes, whilst ensuring alignment and collaboration with global materials development and sourcing leaders

• Demonstrated success in managing cross functional projects and implementing scalable systems or libraries

• Strong analytical and data-driven mindset experience with materials lifecycle and inventory management tools

• Proven ability to work independently, prioritise task and manage multiple projects simultaneously

• Proven success in seasonal negotiation cycles and managing complex global supplier relationships

• Technically fluent in both FW and EQ materials with strong business acumen

• A connector and influencer who naturally aligns cross-functional teams and drives change

OUR EXPECTATION FOR DEMONSTATING LEADERSHIP:

• Strategic Leadership

• Translates strategy into actionable goals for the team aligns execution with broader business context.

• Compiles insights from industry and operational knowledge to contribute to long term strategy and vision building

• Identify team resource and capability gaps to deliver long term strategy and vision

• Growing People & Teams

• Coaches team members for performance and career growth.

• Builds a collaborative team environment with a strong sense of purpose and accountability.

• Identifies team skill gaps and aligns opportunities with both business needs and individual aspirations.

• Driving Results

• Takes ownership to ensure teams deliver on commitments with efficiency and effectiveness

• Takes ownership to lead execution cross-functionally to remove obstacles and optimize resources and drives through complexity

• Focused on results optimized for VF, not function

• Partnership

• Leads collaboration across functions to drive synergy and resolve conflicts.

• Strengthens relationships and communication across teams and levels, act as a connector between business areas

• Aligns stakeholders, tracks cross functional goals and drives follow through beyond own team

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US:

• A purpose -driven opportunity to transform how we source and manage materials across iconic global brands

• A platform to lead cross brand and cross category impact in a collaborative and forward thinking environment

• The ability to build the future of materials- digitally, sustainably and strategically

• Providing you with the best in class, work environment, well-being policies and work place flexibility that is about helping you show up and lean into life with your whole self - emotionally, physically and socially.