Raw Materials Manager

Build and execute DUER's raw material sourcing strategy across fabrics, trims, hardware, labels, and packaging. 

Identify, qualify, and onboard new mills and suppliers aligned to our performance, sustainability, and commercial standards. 

Support the Design team with supplier discovery: trade shows, mill visits, market intelligence, and competitive scanning to keep our partner network ahead of the brief. 

Maintain a preferred supplier base — fewer, better partners — with clear performance scorecards and a roadmap for category coverage. 

Own day-to-day commercial relationships with mills and raw material suppliers. Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and terms. 

Drive cost engineering across core materials — identifying opportunities to improve margin without compromising quality, performance, or brand standards. 

Ensure supplier compliance with DUER's sustainability, quality, and social compliance standards; support audits and certifications (e.g., GOTS, GRS, OEKO-TEX, BCI). 

Resolve commercial and material issues with suppliers when they arise, working closely with Sourcing and Product Development. 

Partner with Design and Product Development to scope and source new raw materials against seasonal briefs — balancing performance, sustainability, hand-feel, price, and scalability. 

Core material maintenance and counter sourcing when necessary for costing, quality, and regional optimization. 

Drive new materials through supplier outreach, sampling, testing, costing, and approval — all the way into the core library. 

Manage testing protocols (lab dips, hand looms, wash tests, performance and durability testing) to qualify suppliers and materials. 

Own the master raw material library — fabrics, trims, hardware, labels, and packaging — keeping suppliers, specs, costs, MOQs, and lead times accurate and up to date. 

Be the single source of truth for raw materials across Design, Product Development, Sourcing, and Planning. 

Maintain accurate data in our systems (WFX) so material decisions flow cleanly into costing, purchasing, and downstream planning. 

Be a trusted partner to the Production team — set them up for success with airtight material specs and data, supplier relationships, and clean hand-offs from mill to factory. 

Partner with Sourcing and Planning to ensure the right materials are available, at the right cost, for every season. 

Provide clear reporting on the material pipeline, supplier performance, and cost movement to the Product, Production, and Sourcing teams. 

8+ years of experience in textile sourcing, raw materials, or fabric development within apparel — denim, performance, or lifestyle categories strongly preferred. 

A senior individual contributor who thrives as a deep specialist. You're known as the go-to materials expert wherever you've worked. 

An established personal network of mills, fibre innovators, and trim suppliers you can activate from day one. 

Deep working knowledge of fabrics (denim, woven, knit, performance blends), trims, and hardware — including construction, finishing, testing, and supplier landscape. 

Proven track record of building and managing mill and supplier networks: discovering new partners, negotiating commercial terms, and holding suppliers accountable. 

Strong commercial instincts — comfortable balancing cost, quality, sustainability, and speed when making sourcing decisions. 

Working understanding of the product development calendar and how raw material sourcing fits into it. 

Organized, detail-obsessed, and calm under pressure. You keep specs tight and supplier relationships sharp. 

Excellent collaborator who can partner across Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Production, Finance, and factory teams in another time zone. 

Proficient with ERP, PLM, and BOM tools. Comfortable in spreadsheets and systems data. 

Established network of fabric mills and trim suppliers in key apparel sourcing regions. 

Experience sourcing sustainable and recycled materials at scale. 

Exposure to vertically integrated manufacturing or direct mill partnerships. 

Familiarity with WFX, SAP Business One, or similar ERP/PLM systems. 

Textile, apparel, or materials-related post-secondary education. 

Hybrid from our Vancouver HQ — in-office most of the week, with flexibility. 

On the Product team, reporting into the Director of Design. 

Close, daily collaboration with Sourcing, Product Development, and Production. 

Periodic travel to mills, suppliers, and trade shows to keep the network strong and the ideas flowing.