Materials Manager

About Stio

Stiois a mountain lifestyle brand that creates and markets functional and stylish apparel, footwear, and accessories inspired by the Teton Range. Their head office is in Jackson, Wyoming. Stio operates across multiple channels including online, catalog, B2B, and retail stores called Mountain Studios.

They emphasize environmental stewardship through partnerships with organizations like Protect Our Winters and the Conservation Alliance, prioritize preferred and Bluesigncertified textiles, conduct supply chain audits, and promote responsible workplace practices. Inclusion and accessibility for all individuals regardless of background are core values.

Role Overview

The Materials Manager at Stio is responsible for sourcing, developing, testing, color matching, and commercializing textiles and trims that meet the design, quality, performance, and cost goals for the entire product line. This includes managing seasonal timelines, planning material deliveries, maintaining product development data, and nurturing vendor partnerships.

With expertise in fabric properties and functionality, the manager works closely with design, development, and product lifecycle management teams to synchronize materials strategy with market plans. The role advances sustainability initiatives aiming for at least 75% preferred material usage and integrates consumer values into material choices and storytelling. Reporting to the Sourcing & Production Director, the manager also liaises with production teams and supports cross-department deadlines. The position includes up to 20% domestic and international travel annually.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain a curated collection of high-performance fabrics and trims that align with brand identity and product differentiation.
• Source seasonal and ongoing fabrics and trims meeting design intent, technical specs, and budget; handle print development processes including greige commitments, strike-offs, and color approvals.
• Collaborate with mills and suppliers to innovate materials and constructions; manage sampling and maintain supplier relationships involving forecasting, cost negotiation, and timeline management.
• Oversee the complete seasonal materials timeline from fabric selection to production readiness, ensuring accuracy in BOM, prototype yardage coordination, and PLM updates.
• Keep Centric PLM material records accurate and comprehensive to support all sales channels; perform seasonal audits to ensure data integrity.
• Manage material costing, staging, mill liabilities, and coordinate sample shipments to development factories.
• Verify testing reports, track transaction certificates, and assist sustainability audits for preferred material certifications such as RDS, RWS, GRS, and GOTS.
• Ensure woven material data accuracy in wholesale workbooks every season.
• Participate in product development team processes including BOM reviews, label choices, and production milestones.
• Educate cross-functional teams on material features and seasonal narratives during milestone meetings.
• Support additional product lines as needed to maintain comprehensive seasonal offerings.
• Adhere to the annual product development budget contributing to revenue, margin, and EBITDA targets.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelors degree or progressing towards one in Textile Science, Apparel Design, Product Development, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 yearsexperience in materials development and testing within apparel or a related sector.
• In-depth technical knowledge of fabric performance across woven, knit, down, and synthetic materials.
• Proven success in launching materials commercially and meeting delivery schedules.
• Experience using PLM systems, preferably Centric, with a strong focus on data accuracy.
• Excellent communication skills enabling effective collaboration across multiple organizational levels in product creation settings.

Additional Information

• The role requires the ability to sit in a stationary position for approximately 75% of the workday.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, company-paid long-term disability, employee assistance programs, 401(k) with match, generous paid time off, gear testing opportunities, and other perks.
• The compensation package is competitive and includes base salary, incentives, and benefits. Salary range is $80,000 to $90,000 annually, with offers based on experience, skills, and qualifications.
• This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted as necessary. Stiois committed to equal employment opportunity, welcoming all qualified candidates including minorities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.