The Breakdown:
The Materials Developer II will be the lead materials resource for our Softgoods and Bags collections. You will guide other team members to deliver operational excellence, while stretching into special projects with cross-functional teams. You will develop and maintain an applied fabric portfolio to support our creative design team and in alignment with our purpose and business goals. You will develop relationships with vendors aligned to the Burton creative design strategy, ultimately ensuring the delivery of quality products in compliance with Burton’s timelines, quality, and functionality standards.
What You Get to Do:
• Responsible for initiating & following material development under consideration for line adoption for quality, pricing, timelines, sustainability, performance and design intent.
• Responsible for documenting and maintaining fabric technical details, sustainability attributes, and testing data in PLM. Ensure fabric approval documentation is available to all necessary parties to support sampling and production deadlines. Maintain the relevancy of our Materials Quality Manual with new testing standards and fabric requirements.
• Responsible for tracking fabric testing reports, assessing risk, communicating failures, and offering solutions for substitute fabrics.
• Support research of CMF trends in materials and color through market analysis, culture, and art
• Assist in seasonal color palette selection
• Support advanced development, product development, and design teams with technical expertise on fabrics and material commercialization. Develop, maintain, and foster key relationships with counterparts.
• Responsible for leading collection reviews for best practice fabric and color usage across the line, with attention to performance and functional material attributes, consistency, and complexity, and offering alternative solutions as needed.
• Responsible for balancing business and sustainability goals for our materials and driving this cross-functionally, with special attention to our product life cycle goals, certifications, and regulations.
• Responsible for leading the launch of seasonal color development processes and meeting the calendar deadlines.
• Responsible for the execution of print development and strike off approvals, and partnering with product creative on placement prints.
• Responsible for negotiating seasonal materials costs in conjunction with the Material Sourcing Operations team and maintaining PLM for accuracy.
• Partner with Material Sourcing Operations to troubleshoot any developments, including but not limited to manufacturing locations; pricing, MOQ, delivery issues, and lead time; and stage materials for on-time Prototype and SMS (salesman sample) deliveries.
What You'll Bring to The Team:
• Relevant education, training, or experience in Textiles, Textile Engineering, Textile Manufacturing, Apparel and Materials Development, with a minimum of 3-5 years, is required.
• Strong knowledge of textile and material testing protocols and understanding of RSL guidelines.
• Color development background, Completion of the Munsell 100 Hue test a plus.
• Proficient skills in MS Office and Adobe Suite Programs, and a working knowledge of Centric PLM or similar database systems
• Aptitude for systems and systematic work
Core Capabilities That Would Help You Succeed in This Role:
• A keen eye for quality, compliance, and process optimization
• A multi-tasker and can handle multiple projects, working with a variety of cross-functional partners
• Highly organized with a sense of urgency
• Proactive problem-solving and solution-oriented
• Passion for technical details. Eager to learn. Naturally curious.
• Effective written and verbal communicator with keen attention to detail.
• Agile, flexible, and can pivot when needed.
How Your Success Will Be Measured:
• Balance of Business and Sustainability Goals for Materials.
• Fabric Portfolio- on time, on cost, and ability to meet creative and quality intent.
• PLM data accuracy.
More Info to Seal the Deal:
Burton’s benefits package includes health insurance (medical, dental and vision), life insurance (company paid), flex spending, short- and long-term disability insurance (company paid), great parental benefits, 401k plan with company match, and paid time-off. Other perks include a discounted season pass, free lessons, product discounts, free demo equipment, ride days, casual work environment, and many more… Our corporate headquarters are located in Burlington, Vermont. We are committed to providing relocation assistance to VT for all successful candidates.
The hiring range for this role is $64,000-$73,000, depending on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, and available budget. Please note that the range details above reflect the base pay only and do not include any potential bonus and other benefits that we offer. Though we wish we could reach out to all applicants personally, you will only be contacted directly should you be chosen to move forward in the process. Candidates not chosen for this particular opportunity are encouraged to check back often for other roles as they are posted. Keep trying!
• The position may require some overnight travel (2-3 weeks annually) to manufacturers in Asia or trade shows in the US and EU.
• Salaried, Year-round
• This position is in a typical, stationary office setting. Over 80% of the day will be spent sitting in 1 location.
