Sr. Lead, Materials Developer- Innovation and Sustainability

Values & Innovation

At Under Armour, we are committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company's values - Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Fight on Together, Love Athletes and Stand for Equality - serve as both a roadmap for our teams and the qualities expected of every teammate.

Our Values define and unite us, the beliefs that are the red thread that connects everyone at Under Armour. Our values are rallying cries, reminding us why we're here, and fueling everything we do.

Our pursuit of better begins with innovation and with our team's mission of being the best. With us, you get the freedom to go further - no matter your role. That means developing, delivering, and selling the state-of-the-art products and digital tools that make top performers even better.

Purpose of Role

We are seeking a Material Development Senior Lead to focus on and elevate Innovation.  The Material Development Senior Lead will focus on Regional Material Innovation but will also have opportunities to touch all parts of the brand and access the latest technologies and innovations. This is a highly interactive and technical development position that requires materials expertise and project leadership experience. This role will be the primary forward-looking interface with our in-region Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 partners, that focus on all inputs including yarn development all the way to textile construction and methodology.  Meanwhile, will be engaged to develop new resources of innovative materials and technologies that not only elevate the competitiveness of the finished products across all lines, but also inspire innovations with driving strategies for the development of new state of the art products.  Qualified candidate must possess the ability to work with and interpret a diverse supply chain and internal customer network to develop dynamic, high-quality materials for an international and renowned Technical Performance Company. Responsibilities include driving technology transfer to in-line, developing alongside best-in-class material supply partners.  This is an opportunity to be part of a great success story, as Under Armour builds and grows their Apparel legacy.

Your Impact

•    Partner with global ingredient suppliers to aid in regional textile development
•    Work interactively with not only existing network of supply chain partners, but also external resources of institutes, organizations, and corporations for fostering innovative and sustainability thinking with collaboration Visit trade shows to develop new textile concepts for future trend textiles
•    Drive and lead material innovation functionally and visually, evolve material processes, and influence new end-use applications for all product categories
•    Be a key integrator between both internal and external teams to drive and support materials innovation projects and exploration for all product categories assuring that all material initiatives meet UA’s goals of sustainability
•    Partner with all Materials Development functions to focus on UA’s Innovation Pipeline.  Support all teammates on communication with in-region partners for troubleshooting relating to innovative materials and technologies
•    Partner with global supply-chain team to support sustainable scale-up of new textiles, manufacturing process, and chemistries 
•    Lead the in-region internal and external partners to ensure that all Innovation initiatives are properly organized, developed, tested, and well-presented while meeting UA’s sustainability goal for success 
•    Develop and maintain an understanding of divisional business goals and values and works collaboratively with all cross- functional partners to enhance material development and group effectiveness across all regional offices 
•    Establish processes and practices for realizing vision, pushing the limits, and aligning aesthetics with material capabilities in terms of functionality, aesthetically, durability, and sourcing infrastructure 
•    Explore and ideate beyond the apparel industry in search of new knowledge and ideas that push and challenge the future of Apparel Innovation and enhances regional offering
•    Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, Merchandising, and Strategic Sourcing teams to lead-in and determine each category’s material direction based on their business needs
•    Be able to decipher how fibers, yarns, knit and woven constructions, dyeing and finishing affect a materials aesthetic and performance attributes at a high level 
•    Collaborate with internal Innovation partners to support long-lead, high profile projects (not just limited to textiles)
•    Help to establish a methodological toolkit, with a regional footprint and make sure it is shared, understood, and used throughout the team that connects back to the creative vision
 

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and proven experience working in technical textile development and the following principles:
  • Textile apparel materials science experience with familiarity and understanding of all phases of product ideation to commercialization 
  • Natural and synthetic fiber and yarn performance attributes and manufacturing techniques 
  • Understanding of apparel material construction and properties in knitting, weaving, and non-woven constructions 
  • Understanding of apparel material dyeing and finishing processes
  • Knowledge of value-added chemistries (performance enhancement) and mechanical finishes for enhanced performance  
  • End-use, product specific materials engineering 
  • Understanding of ASTM, AATCC, ISO, and JIS apparel test standards 
  • Understanding of the materials industry and vendors 
  • Conceptual, technical, and strategic understanding of apparel materials 
  • Aesthetic sense and creativity 
• Team player – each and every day motivating others and effectively collaborating in decision-making
• Strong communication skills: being able to communicate with both global internal/external customers and suppliers
• Ability to work independently without rigidity and constant oversight and collaboratively within the entire organization 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including meeting facilitation and presentations 
• Ability to network and influence internal and external resources 
• Strong ability to effectively communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience, contributing sound judgment of policy and strategy.
• BS in Apparel, Textiles, Materials Manufacturing, Design, or related field 
• 8-10+ years of experience
   

Workplace Location

• Location: This individual must reside within commuting distance from our Raleigh, North Carolina office.
• Return to Work Designation: 3 days week in-office, the remainder of work week remote. 
• Travel: Ability to travel.

Relocation

• Relocation may be provided up to a specified amount

Base Compensation

 $134,114.00 - $184,406.20 USD

Most new hires fall within this range and have the opportunity to earn more over time. Initial placement within the salary range, however, is based on an individual's relevant knowledge, skills and experience for the position. UA is committed to helping our teammates succeed and advance in their careers. Base salary is only one component of our competitive Total Rewards package.

Benefits & Perks

• Paid "UA Give Back" Volunteer Days: Work alongside your team to support initiatives in your local community.
• Under Armour Merchandise Discounts
• Competitive 401(k) plan matching.  
• Maternity and Parental Leave for eligible and FMLA-eligible teammates
• Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources- We offer teammates across the country programs to promote physical activity and overall well-being. 

Want more details about benefits? Visit our page here

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Our Commitment to Diversity

At Under Armour, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, family or paternal status and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Under Armour believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities upon request.