Seasonal Materials Innovation Manager

Vuori is re-defining what athletic apparel looks like: built to move and sweat in but designed with a casual aesthetic to transition into everyday life. We draw inspiration from an active coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, creative expression and life. Our high energy fast paced retail environment is reflected in the clothes we make. We aim to inspire others to take on all aspects of their lives with clarity, enthusiasm and purpose…while having a lot of fun along the way. We are proud to be an outlet for opportunity and for personal growth and success.

Job Description

As the Manager of Seasonal Material Innovation, your deep expertise in raw materials, strong supplier relationships and keen eye for aesthetics and trend will fuel first to market concepts for Vuori. You will serve as a critical liaison between the HQ Raw Materials team and our key suppliers, leveraging your deep understanding of the Long-Range-Plan to develop trend-forward, sustainable materials that align with brand aesthetics and seasonal strategies. From your home base in Taiwan, you will have untethered access to collaborate with suppliers from around the world and help shape the future of what's next for Vuori Materials.

What you'll get to do:

• Collaborate closely with HQ teams and Global Mills to translate seasonal material trends into custom collections curated to reflect Vuori's brand identity that fuel brand growth and drive customer love
• Support HQ Material Team in seasonal development by bridging time zones and language gaps to accelerate issue resolution
• Maintain a sharp awareness of Global market trends, including high-end fashion, textile trade shows and emerging technologies to identify and develop new seasonal fabrics that are both trend -relevant and brand right
• Build and leverage strategic mill partnerships in support of HQ strategies, to uncover underutilize capabilities, enriching Vuori's material assortment and accelerating innovation in alignment with brand direction and product needs
• Operate with autonomy to deliver evergreen material solutions in support of HQ briefs and LRP strategies, proactively identifying opportunities and executing development with and without formal briefs providing constant flow of new ideas at critical points in the season
• Identify new mill partners in conjunction with the HQ Materials team, that bring specialized expertise and innovation to Vuori's supply chain, supporting long-term brand growth and diversification
• Own and lead late-add seasonal material development, partnering directly with mills to accelerate seasonal newness, streamline testing and commercialization; Ensure materials meet aesthetic, performance, and supply chain requirements. Drive faster development cycles to support timely buy readiness and reduce risk through proactive supplier collaboration.
• Coordinate closely with Taiwan-based innovation and compliance teams, as well as HQ Raw Materials partners, to ensure alignment on seasonal priorities, development updates and supply chain strategies.
• Identify and support process improvement initiatives, contributing to the evolution of Vuori's raw materials function in response to rapid brand growth and scaling needs
• Represent Vuori Raw Materials Team – in country, attending textile trade shows, machine expos and conducting regular mill visits to strength supplier relationships and maintain a visible, influential presence in the region

Qualifications

Who you are:

• Bachelor's degree in Textiles Science, Materials Engineering, Product Development or equivalent years of experience working for Brand R+D, or Fabric Mill
• 7+ years of fabric development experience is required and/or product development experience
• Proven success in driving material innovation from concept through commercialization, with a strong track record of cross-functional collaboration between HQ teams and global suppliers to deliver high-quality performance and lifestyle materials that meet brand, timeline and quality expectations.
• Brings a refined design sensibility and deep appreciation for elevated aesthetics and premium hand feel, combined with advanced technical expertise in knitting, weaving, dyeing machinery, fiber science, fabric construction, and finishing technologies across both performance and lifestyle applications
• Possesses a strong understanding of Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply chain capabilities and collaborates closely with global manufacturing partners to ensure seamless integration of new materials into existing supply chain operations
• Advanced knowledge of global textile testing standards (ASTM, AATCC, ISO) with proven experience applying these protocols to ensure material performance, durability and compliance across both performance and lifestyle apparel categories
• Proven ability to work independently with strong organizational skills and attention to detail, thriving in fast-paced environments while managing multiple priorities effectively
• Excellent communication skills with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset, enabling effective cross-functional collaboration and clear supplier engagement
• Experience working in PLM systems and data management tools is preferred; Strong ability to maintain material accuracy, streamline workflows and support cross functional transparency throughout the development lifecycle; Familiarity with PLM platforms Centric is a bonus
• You empower yourself to approach life and work with positivity, purpose and intention. Keeping it light and having fun along the way.
• International travel experience is a plus and international travel required
• Bend, lift, open and move product and related office items vary in weight up to 25lbs, depending on need.

Additional Information

Vuori is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.