Senior Materials Research Specialist

Columbia Sportswear • Richmond, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Through close interaction with the Product Creation Teams and Global Liaison Office partners, the Senior Materials Research Developer will manage the development textile materials from concept to commercialization for a segment of a product line, managing the process and interface between partners across teams as well as collaborate with the Product Creation Team in the establishment, validation, commercialization, and execution of product platforms.

Requirements

• Able to lead group discussions/meetings, work under pressure and meet strict timelines, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and balance connectivity with LO and mill geographies with HQ office expectations.
• Possess strong written, and verbal communication and organizational skills to interface deal with various levels of management and employees within the organization, vendors, and global personnel.
• Able to align cross functional partners towards a common goal and proactively provide guidance with pros/cons and risks identified.
• Physically able to travel globally.
• Bachelor’s degree in textiles, apparel manufacturing, and/or 5-8 years or more experience in materials development, innovation, or related field.
• Must have comprehensive knowledge of textiles, familiarity with textile construction methods and manufacturing, materials testing, and appropriate interpretation of lab results pertaining to products.
• Polymer level understanding preferred towards fiber up development.
• Possess strong working knowledge of materials and functional aspects of garments.
• Capability to create trend & technology presentations, driven through marketplace, trade show & mill research.
• Possess appropriate end use knowledge and functional aspects of garment expertise.
• Possess strong organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, Miro, Air table, Power BI and PDM a plus.

Nice To Haves

• Lab experience a plus.
• Proven track record in product innovation, leading end‑to‑end development of new features and solutions that drive measurable customer and business value preferred.
• prior Equipment (Sleeping Bags, Tents, Backpacks) experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Owns the raw materials development/commercialization process for a product category.
• Collaborates to determine seasonal needs, identify regions/suppliers based on established source plan, while utilizing working knowledge of suppliers’ abilities/limitations and strengths/weaknesses to ensure high standards of performance.
• Proactively identifies consumer relevant solutions
• Collaborates with global liaison offices regarding supplier placement, specific performance, aesthetic, and testing needs as well as offer technical guidance during the development process and bulk.
• Interface with the Sourcing/Costing Department to ensure costs are analyzed and intelligently negotiated to the best possible price based on current market conditions
• Partners with materials quality team to perform risk assessments on relative materials and with liaison offices to develop action plans to ensure best-in-class quality.
• Actively participate and facilitate the timely development to enable the on time commercialization of the seasonal product category.
• Stays abreast of new technologies and consumer trends in the textile market and marketplace and pursues innovation at all times.
• Proactively identifies preseason advanced development opportunities leveraging new technologies and innovations.
• Rallies support for concepts across the Product Creation engine.
• Works with 3rds party and internal testing lab to conduct technical research in relation to materials performance improvements and concept validation.
• Identify proprietary materials opportunities and partners with internal resources to pursue IP.

Benefits

• 401k plan plus a generous company match
• medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account
• an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services)
• EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services
• extensive wellness benefits
• employee discounts
• a generous time off program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior