R&D Material Manager

Description:

Town & Country Living is a global leader in home décor, textiles, and design. Our expanded family includes Home Dynamix and Amalgamated Textiles, providing more than 60 years of combined experience in the home décor industry. The combination of all three companies together brings unmatched expertise and excellence in sales, design, development, sourcing, supply chain efficiencies, customer service, and e-commerce fulfillment. With our company’s diverse multi-product assortment across all home categories, we can provide excellent offerings and service to our retail partners while responding quickly to the ever-changing needs of the marketplace.

SUMMARY

The R&D Material Manager will lead the research, development, and sourcing of innovative fabrics, trims, finishes, and raw materials for home textiles (table linens, kitchen, pillows, rugs, mats, bedding, bath). This role ensures that the company remains competitive by identifying new material technologies, driving sustainability initiatives, and developing cost-effective, compliant, and high-quality materials aligned with brand and customer requirements.

The position serves as a critical link between design, product development, sourcing, and suppliers/fabric mills to deliver differentiated and market-leading product offerings.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES

Material Development & Innovation

• Research, source, and develop new fabrics, yarns, finishes, and treatments that align with brand positioning, cost targets, and quality standards.
• Analyze Trend Reports – WGSN, Fashion snoops etc and curate global textile trends, innovations, and emerging technologies based on the business needs (e.g., performance finishes, sustainable fibers, recycled content).
• Propose new materials and constructions to design and merchandising teams for seasonal assortments.
• Co-develop new fabrics, weaves, finishes with fabric mills and optimize material cost and explore options on cost savings.
• Understand raw material performance standards like color fastness, pilling, tensile and tear strength, flammability etc.

Sustainability & Compliance

• Partner with sustainability teams to identify eco-friendly and certified material solutions (e.g., GOTS, OEKO-TEX, BCI, GRS recycled polyester).
• Ensure all materials comply with regulatory, safety, and retailer-specific requirements (flammability, chemical restrictions, testing protocols).

Supplier & Vendor Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with global textile mills, material suppliers, and innovation partners.
• Evaluate vendor capabilities for new material development and manage seasonal innovation briefs.
• Negotiate lead times, minimum order quantities, and development costs for materials.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with design and product development to integrate innovative materials into collections.
• Work with costing and sourcing to ensure materials meet cost parameters and production feasibility.
• Collaborate with quality and compliance teams to test and validate material performance.

Process & Database Management

• Establish and maintain a material library/database, including test results, and supplier information.
• Develop standardized procedures for material development, testing, and approvals.
• Provide material training and trend presentations to design, merchandising, and sourcing teams.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Material Science, Textile Engineering, or related field.
• 7–10 years of experience in material development, R&D, or sourcing within the home textile, apparel, or soft goods industry.
• Strong knowledge of textile fibers, weaving/knitting techniques, dyeing/finishing processes, and fabric testing standards.
• Experience with sustainable and innovative material initiatives.
• Established network of mills, suppliers, and material innovators across key production regions (India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Egypt , Portugal, etc.).
• Excellent project management skills with ability to juggle multiple material developments across categories and timelines.
• Proficiency in PLM/ERP systems and advanced Excel; CAD or textile design software a plus.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Curiosity and passion for innovation in textiles
• Strong technical expertise in fabric development and testing
• Ability to balance creativity with cost and feasibility
• Strong vendor management and relationship-building skills
• Detail-oriented with a structured approach to R&D processes