Sr. Director, Material & Innovation

We are looking for an experienced product and textile innovator who is passionate about creating products that our customers love for our Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin HQ location. You will work directly with design and development teams and international suppliers to build best-in-class, solution-driven products for all the Duluth Trading Company brands. You will lead the product innovation process, driving material validation from initial textile and trim concepts to final specifications for adoption into commercialization. You will execute new materials (trim/fabric) to comply with sourcing and sustainability strategies, supply chain timelines, quality, price, and functionality. You will join a dynamic and fast-paced environment and roll out products that deliver to our company’s vision and strategy. 

Duluth Trading Company 

Sr. Director, Material & Innovation

We are looking for an experienced product and textile innovator who is passionate about creating products that our customers love for our Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin HQ location. You will work directly with design and development teams and international suppliers to build best-in-class, solution-driven products for all the Duluth Trading Company brands. You will lead the product innovation process, driving material validation from initial textile and trim concepts to final specifications for adoption into commercialization. You will execute new materials (trim/fabric) to comply with sourcing and sustainability strategies, supply chain timelines, quality, price, and functionality. You will join a dynamic and fast-paced environment and roll out products that deliver to our company’s vision and strategy.  The individual will also:

• Oversee material and R&D staff at Duluth Trading Co. international office as well as Headquarters office in US
• Build and maintain a forward-looking innovation strategy that anticipates the needs of our consumers, as well as changes in trends and new developments in technology.
• Leverage extensive industry contacts to identify potential new suppliers, maximize innovation and speed to market, and negotiate favorable agreements with material suppliers
• Support the Product Design Team in developing the next innovative product our customers will love while balancing innovation, sustainability, price and the high-quality standards of Duluth Trading Company.
• Utilize technical expertise to inspire R&D and aid in the creation of new innovative materials, ideas and products.
• Attend trade shows as appropriate to gain perspective on textile innovation and trends. Present quarterly to cross-functional partners on emerging trends and technologies
• Work downstream with raw material suppliers on cost, minimum order quantities, and lead time negotiations to ensure new developments are viable solutions before adoption.
• Identify and cost engineer new textiles to meet design-value proposition leverage material and product exclusivity by partnering with legal experts to ensure that we have the proper patent agreements.
• Work cross-functionally with supply chain partners to develop materials in appropriate markets to support and maximize supply chain flow.
• Analyze fabric needs across the brand and make recommendations to Design Team for leveraging qualities across divisions.
• Cultivate and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure an efficient supply chain to support delivery needs

Minimum Requirements:

Qualified individuals must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Product Development, Marketing, Merchandising,

or related field or its equivalent in education and/or professional experience.

The individual must also have a minimum of 8 years of experience in merchandising and product development.

As part of the eight years of experience in merchandising and product development, the individual must have:

• 8 years of experience in Product development and Raw material sourcing in Asia
• 2 years of experience in overseeing and managing a global organization across US and Asia
• 5 years of experience with the dyeing, printing and finishing process for Textile products
• 6 years of experience with raw material properties & testing
• 5 years of experience with the cost structure for yarn and fabric production across knits, woven and trims and cost negotiation skills 
• 2 years of experience with the performance claims, patent and sustainability attributes
• 2 years of experience with the Core program replenishment program in forecasting, raw material platform, annual costing, and lead time planning.
• Fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin 
• Domestic and International travel required – 15%

Started in 1989, Duluth Trading Company exists to enable hard-working individuals to take on life with their own two hands. Folks that revel in doing it the hard way and celebrate finding a better way. We seek talented individuals who share these beliefs and are excited to further the Duluth Trading legacy with a digital-first mindset, always moving forward and always innovating.

From ingenious Duluth workwear, to comfortably capable Buck Naked Underwear, to outside-embracing AKHG, it’s all about the innovative gear and gadgets that equip customers for a more hands-on way of life.

Top-notch quality, immersive storytelling, outstanding customer service, and the shared belief that the go-all-in-and-dig-deep spirit exists with everyone are what sets Duluth Trading Co. apart. We seek talented folks looking to be part of a can-do team that’s hellbent on helping the world to gear up, get its hands dirty, and do.