Senior Specialist, Material Quality, Equipment

Key Purpose of the Job:

This role sits within VF’s Quality organization and reports to the Senior Manager, Material Quality. The role partners with Tier 2 material, Tier 1 Equipment factories, Supplier Management, Material Sourcing, Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering and Product Stewardship teams. This role supports quality assurance and risk mitigation specifically for Equipment materials. The Senior Specialist will partner with internal and external stakeholders to identify potential material quality issues and lead proactive measures to ensure consistent performance, compliance, and fitness-for-use of equipment materials. This role also supports supplier performance improvement through technical training, governance programs, and cross-functional collaboration. As a subject matter expert in Textile/PU materials, this role will educate teams, drive material knowledge sharing, and promote process excellence.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Risk Management

• Work with suppliers on execution risk mitigation at early mass production stage.

Resolve equipment material quality issues

• Independently lead the resolution of material quality issues.
• Lead structured root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, and effectiveness validation.
• Ability to work independently with suppliers, FW factories, and cross-functional teams while applying sound judgment and timely escalation of complex, ambiguous or high-risk cases.

Collaborating with stakeholders

• Partner with cross-functional teams (Brands, Sourcing, Product Development, GMS, etc.) on material quality issues and process excellence.
• Collaborate with Regional Quality (RO QM) and Global Material Services (GMS) to identify quality risks at early stage and co-develop innovative solutions.
• Maintain clear, consistent communication with internal teams and material suppliers, promoting alignment and mutual understanding.
• Ensure effective testing and validation of materials, collaborating with internal labs and third-party testing facilities to support product compliance and performance.

Maintain visibility and accountability

• Maintain accurate issue records, status, risk level, next steps, and closure evidence.
• Use VF system quality data to identify recurring failure modes and systemic supplier gaps.
• Publish Monthly Supplier quality performance dashboard to suppliers and regular supplier performance update to VF leadership.

Apply technical expertise and improve capability

• Serve as the subject matter expert in fabric production including but not limited to printing, heat transfer, lamination, coating, bonding, embossing, finishing, and other surface treatments.
• Assess process conditions, specifications, testing, inspection findings, and defect patterns to determine effective resolution.
• Convert issue learnings into preventive guidance, supplier improvement priorities, and inputs to quality capability programs.

Drive Process Excellence

• Participate in functional and cross-functional projects aimed at improving material quality processes, governance, and issue management effectiveness.
• Deliver technical recommendations and best practices to improve the performance, durability, and reliability of equipment materials, while reducing quality incidents.
• Help identify process gaps and contribute to the development of standardized workflows, quality standards, and best practices.
• Develop and implement processes and guidelines to ensure quality consistency across all categories of equipment materials, from synthetics to textiles and leathers.
• You will strengthen supplier performance, improve process consistency, and apply issue learnings to prevent recurrence across the footwear supply chain
• Share learnings from issue resolution activities to improve operational consistency and effectiveness.
• Synergize best manufacturing practices across suppliers.

Training and Certification

• Lead and support the training and certification under Supplier Certification Program (SCP) of equipment material suppliers to ensure alignment with VF quality standards and proper calibration procedures to ensure consistent component quality.
• Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, disciplined execution, collaborative leadership, and commitment to accountability, process excellence, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Role Relationship Building

• Engage with Brand and VF teams to share actionable insights on equipment material quality that influence product outcomes and customer satisfaction.
• Build strong, trust-based partnerships within VF and with the global equipment supply base to advance material quality and innovation goals.
• Facilitate solution-oriented conversations with stakeholders to align material performance expectations and quality targets.

Leadership

• Exhibit strong listening, communication, and collaboration skills to guide and influence cross-functional teams toward achieving high standards in footwear material quality and performance.

Minimum Relevant Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Textile Material manufacturing, Material quality engineering, Supplier (T2) / Equipment Vendor (T1) quality or production issue resolution within textile or equipment manufacturing.

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.