TOMMY HILFIGER Looking for SR. MANAGER, FABRIC R&D, KNITS – Tommy Hilfiger at New York , New York Full Time

Individual will be responsible for managing the overall process of knit development innovating new and seasonal fabrics that meet the brand aesthetic vision while balancing cost, quality and calendar adherence. Individual will be strategic and proactive in sourcing fabrics keeping in mind current company initiatives such as speed to market, sustainability and corporate environmental initiatives.

The principle purpose is to lead in globally sourcing and developing knit fabrics with brand aesthetic at the right cost using a strategic go forward filter to fulfill the brands needs and strategic goals while ensuring best in quality.

Responsibilities:

• Drive and manage all phases of knit fabric research and development with an emphasis on forward aesthetic and strategic thinking to determine direction for future seasons while driving the business forward
• Manage cost and speed optimization
• Support RM and supply chain strategies
• Assess and mitigate risk at fabric level and propose solutions ensuring calendar adherence
• Ensure HUB RM team is clear on seasonal direction &execution of RM
• Oversee management of digital /physical RM libraries
• Own business relationships with cross-functional partners
• Troubleshooting issues & escalating when appropriate
• Drive process improvement
• Coaching and developing a team
• Oversee developments adhering to calendar deliverables
• Completing and understanding seasonal analytics to support strategic go forward plans
• Maintenance of fabric resource library to support seasonal inspiration and foundational fabrics.

Qualifications:

• B.S. Textiles or Fashion degree preferred
• 7+  years of R&D experience
• 2-4 years experience leading a team of 1 or more
• Exposure to overseas mills and factories
• Verbal comprehension & critical thinking
• Problem solving and decision making
• Strong presentation skills
• Expert understanding of global knit textile knowledge
• Excellent management and organizational skills
• Strong strategic and analytical skills
• Ability to work closely and partner effectively with design, vendors, mills and global production
• Awareness of potential testing and/or quality issues
• Ability to negotiate and build consensus across multiple functions
• SAP experience, a plus