Director, Materials & Digital Operations

Deckers Brands•Washington, DC

5d•Remote

About The Position

As the Director, Materials & Digital Operations, you will provide strategic leadership across all Deckers Brands, enabling scalable, responsible, and data-driven decisions that shape the future of our materials and digital operations. You’ll partner closely with sourcing, ESG, and internal assurance teams to align supplier strategies, strengthen governance, and advance sustainability and compliance outcomes. Your leadership will drive enterprise digital transformation through automation, PLM governance, and digital asset management, improving accuracy, efficiency, and supply chain visibility across our global brands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, materials science, engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience in footwear or apparel; advanced degree preferred.
12+ years of experience in operations, supply chain, materials, or digital product development within a global footwear or apparel organization.
8+ years of progressive leadership experience overseeing cross-functional teams and driving complex strategic initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to design and execute enterprise-level strategies that enable meaningful organizational change and operational transformation.
Proven financial acumen, including development and management of departmental budgets, balancing cost efficiency with long-term strategic objectives.
Extensive experience in supply chain management and strategic sourcing, with a strong focus on material quality, supplier capability, and sustainability standards.
Demonstrated expertise in cost control, vendor relationship management, implementation of vendor scorecards, and negotiation of commercial terms and contracts.
Proven experience advancing sustainable materials through innovation and implementation, including familiarity with HIGG or comparable platforms, traceability tools, and industry testing standards.
Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration with experience managing multiple product categories, development calendars, and regional stakeholders.
Proficiency in Microsoft applications with advanced, hands-on expertise in FlexPLM or equivalent PLM systems supporting materials and 3D workflows.
Advanced problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication skills, with the ability to influence across diverse audiences and lead change.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute cross-brand procurement strategies, including vendor scorecards, rebate programs, forecasting, and supplier negotiations to drive cost optimization and year-over-year savings.
Lead the integration of AI-driven automation, PLM, cloud systems, and 3D technologies to standardize workflows, strengthen data integrity, and bridge physical and digital material processes.
Partner with Material Costing, Sourcing, IT, and global teams in the US and Asia to align supplier strategies, improve visibility, and ensure seamless execution across footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Lead FlexPLM and Digital Asset Management (DAM) capabilities as they relate to materials, 3D assets, and product creation workflows, driving digital transformation and cross-brand consistency.
Establish and maintain materials-centric data governance by overseeing PLM and DAM libraries, material attributes, 3D assets, and BOM structures to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
Drive adoption and business enablement by partnering with IT and cross-functional SMEs to deliver training, evolve material libraries, and ensure PLM solutions support commercial effectiveness, compliance, and sustainability.
Partner with ESG and Internal Audit teams to integrate responsible sourcing practices, strengthen sustainability initiatives, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Lead evaluation and validation of sustainable material alternatives, collaborating with preferred vendors and internal teams to advance innovation and cross-brand adoption.
Drive continuous improvement across materials processes, 3D-enabled digital product creation, data governance, and sustainability-aligned standards.