Manager, Materials Library & Data
Job Description
ABOUT YOUR ROLE:
The Manager, Materials Library is responsible for the strategic management, curation, and continuous improvement of VF Corporation’s physical materials library for footwear & Equipment. This role ensures the library contains accurate, relevant, and unique physical representations of all materials used across the business. The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of material properties, a passion for organization and storytelling, and the ability to lead a team of subject matter experts (SMEs) in maintaining a world-class resource for design and development teams.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:
Include but not limited to:
Library Management & Curation
Oversee the organization, cataloging, and maintenance of the physical materials library to ensure easy access and retrieval.
Ensure all materials in the library are accurately labeled, stored, and reflect current sourcing and usage across VF brands.
Validate all material addition requests, ensuring only materials with unique aesthetic, functional, or physical properties are accepted.
Seasonal Material Presentations
Curate and prepare seasonal material assortments in support of brand creative kick-off and inspiration sessions.
Collaborate with design, development, and sourcing teams to align material presentations with seasonal direction and innovation priorities.
Governance & Quality Control
Conduct regular audits and purges of the library to eliminate duplicates, outdated, or redundant materials.
Establish and enforce guidelines for material uniqueness and relevance to maintain a high-quality, focused library.
Team Leadership
Supervise a team of material subject matter experts (SMEs) responsible for evaluating material submissions for uniqueness and relevance.
Provide coaching and direction to ensure consistent evaluation standards and alignment with library governance protocols.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with digital library teams to ensure alignment between physical and digital material representations.
Work closely with sustainability, sourcing, and innovation teams to ensure the library reflects VF’s material strategy and value
WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:
Strong knowledge of footwear & apparel material, properties, construction and sourcing
Familiarity with PLM systems and material databases.
Experience in storytelling and presentation of materials for creative teams.
Understanding of sustainability and circular material strategies.
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to operate with a fast moving highly matrixed organization