Associate Materials Manager

Role Specific Information

Job Description

About the Role

As Associate Materials Manager, you will execute global materials sourcing strategies for Kohl’s Private and Exclusive brands to deliver optimal supply chain value, including quality, cost, speed and on-time delivery with technical proficiency.

What You’ll Do

• Partners with Design/production to develop materials to support consolidation, fabric strategy and newness

• Shares any relevant intel from mill/garment partners and helps guide CFT on which partners to utilize for execution

• Creates and maintains fabric library to support innovation, newness and trend for CFT utilization

• Works directly with mills to develop materials within cost, IMU, quality, performance, and sustainability expectations

• Manages physical and digital material libraries and recommends existing qualities when appropriate

• Supports material testing standards, test methods, and pass ratings

• Maintains PLM and development tools related to seasonal materials, palettes, commercialization, and status updates

• Executes materials sourcing strategies by category, brand, gender, and mill to support cost, quality, speed, lead-time, and merchant financial goals

• Supports seasonal and long-range mill strategy, including mill matrix intent, mill projections, scorecards, and capability assessments.

• Supports cost execution through competitive costing events, seasonal negotiations, cost analysis, benchmarking, and mill/program awards

• Manages and optimizes Service Level Terms, consumption charts, yarn/greige positioning, and inventory risk escalation

• Builds and maintains cost reporting using internal data sources and other reporting tools

• Supports company sustainability goals related to materials and sourcing

• Serves as a key liaison across Sourcing, Design, Production, QAPI and external partners (Mills/Vendors)

• Supports seasonal brand matrix and projection processes by mill, brand, category, and gender

• Builds knowledge of supplier, mill, and COP capabilities, competencies, and expertise

• Supports training, development, and process guidance for peers and Materials Coordinators

• Drives documentation best practices, training resources, process improvements, data management, and presentation development for leadership decision-making

• Additional tasks may be assigned

What Skills You Have

Required

• 2+ years of experience in textiles, product development, sourcing, production, supply chain, or related retail functions

• Textile construction knowledge with a global supply chain perspective

• Experience in development, sourcing, costing, or material commercialization

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, project management, negotiation and presentation skills

• Ability to influence and build relationships with internal and external partners

• Detail-oriented, self-starting, agile, and able to manage complex priorities

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google platforms, and data/reporting tools

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Design, Sourcing, Business, or a closely related field

• Previous experience in textile manufacturing

• Ability to successfully operate in an international environment

This role is based at our Corporate Office in Menomonee Falls, WI. You’ll work onsite from Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.

Essential Functions

The requirements listed below are representative of functions you will be required to perform, however you may be required to perform additional functions. Kohl’s may revise this job description from time to time. To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, absent undue hardship.

• Ability to perform the accountabilities listed in the “What You’ll Do” Section

• Ability to comply with dress code requirements

• Basic math and reading skills, legible handwriting, and basic computer operation

• Ability to maintain prompt and regular attendance and meet scheduling requirements as set by the company

• Ability to learn and comply with all company policies, procedures, standards and guidelines

• Ability to give direction and to receive, understand and proactively respond to direction from leadership and other company personnel

• Ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively and appropriately with others

• Ability to maintain composure and work in a fast paced environment while accomplishing multiple tasks within established timeframes

• Ability to satisfactorily complete company training programs

• Ability to use a personal computer for tasks such as communicating, preparing reports, etc.

• Ability to plan, prioritize and monitor activities across business units

• Ability to complete or oversee the completion of assigned projects in a timely manner