Columbia Sportswear, Inc.:
Sr Materials Manager Job in Burlington, VT

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia, were as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, were proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: Its perfect. Now make it better. As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Sr. Materials Manager is responsible for leading material management strategy deployment for Columbia Asia footwear. This role leads material team from supporting brand material sourcing, development and innovation to raw material supplier management including costing, compliance, quality and delivery by working with HQ material planning, material sourcing, innovation, brand product creation, compliance team and Asia footwear functional teams. This role also needs to develop team to material experts and facilitate team performance improvement, system enhancement, process optimization as well as operational excellence and sustainability.

This position will be located in Zhuhai, China.

HOW YOULL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Align brand strategy to create strategic tactics for deployment. Collaborate with HQ innovation, product safety, material and product creation for material innovation, sustainability, development and sourcing in Asia through partnership with internal and external stakeholders. Support brands and HQ material team for foundation materials palettes and to build up library including 3D.
Work closely with HQ Material team for aligned execution plan on new material, suppliers, and projects. Drive compliance and transparency from supplier bidding, NSAP process to boarding for the best benefit of brand.
Ensure product safety and compliance through established management systems and proactive testing protocol for resolution.
Facilitate data accuracy for input and output with supported tools or resources for team to improve operational efficiency. Evaluate and analyze timely on supplier capability and capacity to track and minimize brand risks. Search for market insight and cost trend to benchmark and leverage.
Maintain and strengthen partnership with shoe factories, material suppliers and lab partners. Guide team for material costing, compliance, quality and delivery management for operational and sustainable excellence.
Optimize policies, processes, testing protocols to drive for best practice to lead in industry. Reframe organization to maximize functional value and efficiency.

YOU ARE
Integrity and authenticity with internal and external partners.
Industrial business acumen with long-term insight. Strategic planning and deployment capability.
Technical and functional expert.
Growth mindset with fast learning capability in new knowledge and skillset.
Coach to elevate team in analytical, negotiation, project and process management, effective and efficient interaction skills.

YOU HAVE
University degree with textiles, chemical, engineering, supply chain or business administration preferred.
At least 10 years of experience in Footwear industry with full understanding of footwear product, material, supply chain, or manufacturing related fields.
Fluent in English and Mandarin.




Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.


This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.