VP Materials R&D
About The Position
The VP Materials R&D leads materials innovation, strategic fabric sourcing and development across Gap Inc. brands: Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. The role provides holistic materials leadership across the company and direct materials leadership for Banana Republic, translating the brand’s aesthetic into clear, executable direction. The VP uses consumer insights, mill strategies, and key trends to drive fabric development, innovation, costing, and positioning, and leads Gap Inc.’s color operations strategy and enterprise digital color library. The role also advances a “Fabric First” mentality throughout the product-to-market process and provides direction and thought partnership to internal teams in North America and to Mill Management and Fabric Engineering teams in Asia. The position leads the US-based Materials teams and establishes multi-year fabric R&D strategy aligned with brand and company objectives. It partners with design, merchandising, production, and sourcing teams to meet creative, functional, and commercial requirements; leads Banana Republic R&D and product-to-market milestones; and informs global sourcing and product assortment strategies through market and competitive analysis. The VP sets seasonal trend direction, oversees fabric development standards and KPIs, maintains physical and digital materials libraries, manages color processes and custom color development, and supports sustainability targets through materials innovation and supplier collaboration.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in textile design, material science, or a related field.
- 15+ years in senior materials roles, with global leadership scope across apparel categories.
- Proven experience driving materials innovation in a global, multi-brand, omni-channel enterprise.
- Proven ability to lead end-to-end fabric development, from ideation to bulk production.
- Deep expertise in textile fibers, yarns, knits, wovens, dyeing and finishing techniques, fabric construction, textile processes, and color services.
- Proficiency in fabric testing protocols, including colorfastness, shrinkage, and pilling, and in compliance standards that ensure product integrity.
- Understanding of technical fabrics, including performance materials, wovens, warp knits, and seamless garment construction.
- Ability to specify custom engineering requirements for new materials and resolve manufacturing or costing issues before production.
- Strong understanding of cost/value engineering, margin management, and the business impact of material choices.
- Strong vendor and mill network across key global regions, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
- Executive-level oral and written business communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical and market information, influence senior leaders, and work across matrixed organizations.
- Track record of recruiting, retaining, and developing high-performing technical talent.
- Strong operational mindset and ability to translate product quality and customer metrics into process innovation.
- Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, including the ability to frame ambiguous and complex issues and generate insight through rigorous analysis.
- Experience leading transformation efforts, including business model innovation and large-scale cost improvements, and driving digitization and process improvements in fabric development workflows.
- Ability to manage multiple projects with urgency and attention to detail.
- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and digital tools for trend analysis, CAD, and fabric design.
- Ability to travel globally.
Nice To Haves
- Post-graduate qualifications.
- Familiarity with sustainable materials and eco-friendly processes, including knowledge of certifications such as GOTS and OEKO-TEX.
- Familiarity with legal aspects of material exclusivity and patent agreements.
Responsibilities
- Lead Gap Inc.’s US-based Materials teams and develop and execute a multi-year fabric R&D strategy aligned with brand and company objectives.
- Partner with design, merchandising, production, and sourcing teams to ensure materials meet creative, functional, and commercial requirements; present seasonal R&D trend insights to these teams and senior executives as needed.
- Contribute to global sourcing and product assortment strategies based on market research and competitive analysis.
- Lead the Banana Republic R&D team and oversee key product-to-market milestones in collaboration with brand product leadership.
- Research and analyze global textile trends, market needs, new technologies and processes, and consumer preferences to inform fabric innovation.
- Set annual and seasonal trend direction and drive innovation based on Design direction, textile industry innovations, and macro trends.
- Analyze company-wide fabric needs and communicate recommendations to cross-functional partners for leveraging qualities across brands and divisions.
- Establish and monitor seasonal fabric development KPIs and cross-brand discipline regarding seasonal developments, fabric testing, and risk assessment.
- Drive a consistent fabric process operating model and discipline.
- Build and maintain physical and digital materials libraries across brands.
- Manage the color library, including color processes, testing, and custom color development.
- Stay informed about market trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies in the fabric industry.
- Ensure brand and company sustainability targets are met through materials innovation, supplier collaboration, and engagement with fiber and fabric innovators.
- Drive a “Fabric First” mentality and strategy throughout the product-to-market process.
- Provide direction and thought partnership to internal Gap Inc. teams in North America and to Mill Management and Fabric Engineering teams in Asia.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
