Junior Materials Specialist *16 Month Contract*

Nature & Scope → Your Role at Roots The Junior Materials Specialist (16 Month Contract) plays an essential role within the Roots Product Development team, contributing to the innovation and execution of high-quality raw materials that define our iconic products. Reporting directly to the Senior Materials Development Manager, this position supports the full lifecycle of material development - from sourcing and testing to production - ensuring every fabric and trim meets Roots’ standards of craftsmanship, functionality, and sustainability. This is a collaborative and detail-oriented role that helps bring product concepts to life through strong vendor communication and a passion for material innovation.   Key Responsibilities → How You’ll Make an Impact Support the Materials Development Team regarding sourcing, development, testing, and consolidation of raw materials and trims from inception through production Maintain raw materials library (virtual and physical libraries) Assist and ensure development is flowing within calendar timelines Adds the approved fabric contents into Momentis for use by the designers. Track fabric testing report and the development testing assessment tool to level set expectations across functional areas Support the fabric technical review meeting with QA and the PD&S team Collects initial preferred material required certificates from the supplier to support items adopted from the seasonal fabric assortment Creates RMC for each fabric Support SMS s/y arrangement Communicate all material development progress to suppliers, keeping them updated and addressing concerns to ensure accurate delivery of the product Manage Material development and fabric submissions to ensure that deliverables are maintained for all Milestone meetings Develop and maintain strong cross-functional relationships regarding changes/discrepancies / on-time delivery, etc. Maintain development tracker & other relevant Excel documents    Qualifications & Experience → The Skills You Bring Degree or diploma holder in the fashion or textile industry Good written and verbal communication Strong computer skills and proficient use of Microsoft Office, Excel Minimum 2-3 years of experience in materials management, sourcing, and development Detail oriented, accurate, and highly organized. Technical knowledge of fibers, knit and woven structures, dyeing, printing, and finishing is preferred Understanding of garment construction is preferred Experience in testing, quality assurance, and sustainability best practices is preferred