Material Developer

Workwear Outfitters has a strong legacy of building innovative and authentic market-right products and is a leading supplier of work apparel and footwear for diverse occupations in industries such as automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, government, food services, telecommunications, hospitality, and many more. Workwear Outfitters is based in Nashville, Tennessee with more than 5,500 employees in facilities spanning the globe.

Brands under the Workwear Outfitters umbrella include Red Kap®, Bulwark®, Image Authority®, Kodiak®, Terra®, Walls®, Liberty ®, Work Authority®, Workrite® Fire Service, Chef Designs®, Horace Small®, CritiCore®, and OOBE®.  Workwear Outfitters is also the exclusive licensee for Dickies® apparel in the B2B channel.

Our Purpose: “We champion and empower workers who make our world work better”

Major benefits include medical, vision and dental, Life and Disability coverage.

Other benefits included: 401K, Tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, and many others.

What You Will Do as a Material Developer:

This position manages the materials development process to ensure objectives are met and developments can be successfully commercialized and transitioned to the GMS team. The Material Developer ensures proper communication across the organization and supports GMS inclusion in all aspects of development from commercialization to the transition to execution. Other duties include maintaining databases, communicating development stages, and fostering relationships with key vendors.

How You Will Make a Difference:

• Develops and manages the material development strategies provided by Merchandising to ensure a timely transition of each material as it matures from development into execution. This includes ensuring attainment of target calendar dates, material performance standards, customer requirements, etc. to achieve successful material commercialization supporting financial objectives.
• Drives all aspects of the material development process for requested developments. Manages an appropriate and effective communication between vendors, merchandising staff, coordination of all supply chain inputs and ensuring target date completion.
• Manages assessment and communication of development status to key stakeholders, including potential risks to timeline or financial targets.
• Develops and fosters existing supplier capabilities through the education/training of internal customers, merchandising, marketing, and operations as well as the designated hub team.
• In conjunction with the Manager, Materials Development, gathers & evaluates the development variables, such as cost scenarios, vendor minimums, lead-times, duty restrictions, and logistics needs in support of the materials development process.
• Nurtures connectivity with merchandising to appreciate all aspects of the team’s materials development needs to support immediate and long-term strategy.
• Ensures proper process and communication flow occurs between Merchandising, Supply Chain, GMS and external hubs related to all aspects of materials development lifecycle from definition to execution phase

Skills for Success:

• Years of Related Professional Experience: 1-3
• Bachelor's degree
• Product development experience preferred
• Analytical and ability to process data
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Strong negotiating skills
• Innovative and creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent organization skills
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects & priorities
• Proficient PC skills (spreadsheets, Excel, Word & other databases)