Manager, Material Quality, Polymer/Trims

How You Will Make a Difference

Manage footwear raw-material quality, with a main focus on leather and polymers. Ensure materials meet VF quality, performance, compliance, sustainability and brand requirements throughout bulk production. Work with internal teams, suppliers, factories and laboratories to identify risks early, solve quality issues, improve supplier performance and develop the material quality team.

What You Will Do

Material Quality & Risk

• Manage quality standards and risk assessment for leather, footwear polymers and trims, including molded parts, films, foams, adhesives, laces, webbings, labels, hardware and accessories.

• Establish and maintain leather quality requirements covering grading, cutting yield, thickness, shade, grain appearance, physical performance and restricted-substance compliance.

• Assess tannery controls for incoming hides, wet-end and finishing processes, recipe management, lot segregation, color continuity and lot-level traceability.

• Drive prevention and resolution of leather-specific defects, including shade variation, loose grain, cracking, peeling, dye transfer, crocking, water spotting, mold and finish inconsistency.

• Review material specifications, test results, production processes, failure trends and root causes; recommend practical corrective and preventive actions.

• Identify and manage material quality risks during development, commercialization and bulk production.

Supplier Quality & Improvement

• Evaluate supplier quality systems, technical capability, process controls and production readiness.

• Use audits, scorecards, performance data and KPIs to improve supplier quality and accountability.

• Maintain quality controls and traceability from T2 material suppliers through T1 footwear factories.

• Lead or support material certification, supplier training, technical calibration and continuous improvement.

Partnership & Team Leadership

• Partner with Product Development, Global Materials, GMS, Color, Technical Development, Sourcing, Quality, Compliance, brands, suppliers and laboratories.

• Communicate risks, business impact, options and recommendations clearly to stakeholders.

• Set clear priorities and provide coaching, feedback, technical guidance and development support to the team.

How You Will Lead

• Set clear direction, connect team goals with business priorities and clarify roles, expectations and decisions.

• Use technical knowledge, consumer needs and data to make sound decisions and improve operations.

• Build trust through open, respectful and inclusive communication and strong cross-functional partnership.

• Develop a high-performing team through coaching, timely feedback, clear accountability and career development.

• Model self-awareness, learning agility, influence, integrity and a consistent drive for results.

What Success Looks Like

• Materials consistently meet VF and brand requirements.

• Polymer and trim risks are identified and resolved early.

• Corrective actions are completed on time and remain effective.

• Supplier quality and process capability improve.

• Development and production milestones are supported on time.

• Team capability, accountability and collaboration continue to grow.

Skills for Success

• 8+ years of experience in footwear raw materials, material development, R&D, manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality or a related field.

• 3+ years of people leadership, team-lead, project-lead or matrix-leadership experience.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Leather technology, Polymer Science, Chemical engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering or a related field.

• Strong knowledge of leather and or footwear polymers and trims, manufacturing processes, performance, failure modes and quality controls.

• Hands-on knowledge of leather types, tanning and finishing methods, grading systems, color approval, physical and chemical testing, and tannery quality management.

• Experience with ISO 9001, 8D, SPC, CPK, FMEA, Six Sigma and 5S.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project-management and stakeholder-management skills.

• Good knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint; Tableau or similar analytics experience is helpful.

• Excellent written and spoken English; Mandarin or another relevant Asian language is helpful.

• Ability to travel based on business needs.

VF Values

Integrity | Consumer-Focused | Growth Mindset | Simplicity | Win Together

Free to Be, Inclusion & Diversity

As a purpose-led, performance-driven company, we foster belonging through respect, connection, openness and authenticity. We value diversity and enable associates to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

What's In It for You

We unleash human potential through the ideas, energy and commitment of our people, supported by benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-

being.

We just have one question. Are you in?

About Us

VF Corporation habille les consommateurs partout dans le monde grâce à son portefeuille diversifié de marques emblématiques de style de vie, notamment Vans®, The North Face® et Timberland®. Fondée en 1899, VF est l’une des plus importantes entreprises mondiales de vêtements, de chaussures et d’accessoires. Elle exerce ses activités de façon socialement et écologiquement responsable dans de nombreuses régions du monde, catégories de produits et canaux de distribution.

VF s’engage à offrir des produits novateurs aux consommateurs et à créer une valeur durable pour ses clients et ses actionnaires.

VF Corporation outfits consumers around the world with its diverse portfolio of iconic lifestyle brands, including Vans®, The North Face®, and Timberland®. Founded in 1899, VF is one of the world's largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies with socially and environmentally responsible operations spanning numerous geographies, product categories and distribution channels. VF is committed to delivering innovative products to consumers and creating long-term value for its customers and shareholders.

Énoncé de vision de VF en matière de diversité
VF s’engage à créer un environnement inclusif qui accueille et valorise les différences parmi tous ses associés, ses clients, ses fournisseurs et les collectivités où nous vivons et exerçons nos activités. Le succès et la croissance continus de VF sont renforcés par des initiatives qui favorisent la diversité à l’échelle mondiale. VF s’engage à offrir l’égalité des chances en matière d’emploi et à traiter ses associés et ses candidats sans discrimination fondée sur la race, la couleur, le sexe, l’âge, l’origine nationale, la religion, l’orientation sexuelle, l’identité ou l’expression de genre, l’état matrimonial, la citoyenneté, un handicap, le statut d’ancien combattant protégé, le statut VIH/sida ou tout autre motif protégé par la loi.

VF s’engage à répondre aux divers besoins des personnes en situation de handicap dans des délais raisonnables, conformément aux principes d’autonomie, de dignité, d’intégration et d’égalité des chances. Pour ce faire, VF s’efforcera de cerner, de prévenir et d’éliminer les obstacles à l’accessibilité partout où cela est possible, tout en respectant les exigences en matière d’accessibilité prévues par l’ADA, la LAPHO (AODA) et toute autre réglementation provinciale, étatique ou locale applicable.

VF s’engage à assurer l’accessibilité numérique, à se conformer aux Règles pour l’accessibilité des contenus Web (WCAG) 2.1, niveau AA, ainsi qu’aux normes de conception accessible de l’ADA et de la LAPHO (AODA), et à toute autre réglementation applicable.

Si vous avez besoin d’une mesure d’adaptation ou si vous avez des questions concernant cet énoncé, veuillez transmettre votre demande à PeopleServices@vfc.com

VF Diversity Vision Statement
VF is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our associates, customers, suppliers and the communities in which we live and conduct business. The continued success and growth of VF is enhanced through initiatives that promote diversity throughout VF around the world. VF is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, and treating our VF associates and VF applicants without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, HIV/AIDS status, or any other legally protected basis.

VF is committed to meeting the diverse needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner that is consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity, and will do so by striving to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility wherever possible as well as by meeting the accessibility requirements under the ADA, AODA, and other applicable state, local or provincial regulations.

VF is committed to digital accessibility, and to conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA and complying with the ADA and AODA Standards for Accessible Design, and other applicable regulations.

If you need an accommodation or have any questions regarding this statement, please send your request to PeopleServices@vfc.com.