Associate Materials Manager
About the Role
As Associate Materials Manager, you will execute global materials sourcing strategies for Kohl’s Private and Exclusive brands to deliver optimal supply chain value, including quality, cost, speed and on-time delivery with technical proficiency.
What You’ll Do
Partners with Design/production to develop materials to support consolidation, fabric strategy and newness
Shares any relevant intel from mill/garment partners and helps guide CFT on which partners to utilize for execution
Creates and maintains fabric library to support innovation, newness and trend for CFT utilization
Works directly with mills to develop materials within cost, IMU, quality, performance, and sustainability expectations
Manages physical and digital material libraries and recommends existing qualities when appropriate
Supports material testing standards, test methods, and pass ratings
Maintains PLM and development tools related to seasonal materials, palettes, commercialization, and status updates
Executes materials sourcing strategies by category, brand, gender, and mill to support cost, quality, speed, lead-time, and merchant financial goals
Supports seasonal and long-range mill strategy, including mill matrix intent, mill projections, scorecards, and capability assessments.
Supports cost execution through competitive costing events, seasonal negotiations, cost analysis, benchmarking, and mill/program awards
Manages and optimizes Service Level Terms, consumption charts, yarn/greige positioning, and inventory risk escalation
Builds and maintains cost reporting using internal data sources and other reporting tools
Supports company sustainability goals related to materials and sourcing
Serves as a key liaison across Sourcing, Design, Production, QAPI and external partners (Mills/Vendors)
Supports seasonal brand matrix and projection processes by mill, brand, category, and gender
Builds knowledge of supplier, mill, and COP capabilities, competencies, and expertise
Supports training, development, and process guidance for peers and Materials Coordinators
Drives documentation best practices, training resources, process improvements, data management, and presentation development for leadership decision-making
Additional tasks may be assigned
What Skills You Have
Required
2+ years of experience in textiles, product development, sourcing, production, supply chain, or related retail functions
Textile construction knowledge with a global supply chain perspective
Experience in development, sourcing, costing, or material commercialization
Strong analytical, organizational, communication, project management, negotiation and presentation skills
Ability to influence and build relationships with internal and external partners
Detail-oriented, self-starting, agile, and able to manage complex priorities
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google platforms, and data/reporting tools
Preferred
Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Design, Sourcing, Business, or a closely related field
Previous experience in textile manufacturing
Ability to successfully operate in an international environment
This role is based at our Corporate Office in Menomonee Falls, WI. You’ll work onsite from Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.