Lead Apparel Material Sourcing (Development & Commercialization)

The Lead for Apparel Materials Development & Commercialisation manages an assigned portfolio of Tier 2 material suppliers, ensuring a seamless transition from development to bulk production. The role works closely with global Material Development, Sourcing, Quality and Tier 1 manufacturing partners to drive supplier performance, material readiness, quality consistency and on-time delivery. Based in Hanoi, Vietnam, the position sits within a globally integrated supply chain team and involves frequent travel across Asia to work directly with manufacturing partners, resolve challenges proactively and drive continuous improvement.

• Own an assigned portfolio of Mainline Apparel Tier 2 suppliers as the primary sourcing and execution interface, building strong supplier relationships and proactively resolving operational risks before they impact Tier 1 production.
• Partner with Zurich Material Development, Tier 2 suppliers and Tier 1 factories to transition approved materials from development through commercialisation and bulk readiness, ensuring alignment on technical requirements, testing, lead times, capacity and supply commitments.
• Drive Tier 2 performance against key KPIs including quality, on-time delivery, lead time, responsiveness and execution reliability, identifying performance gaps and driving corrective actions and supplier improvement plans.
• Align supplier capacity, greige availability and lead times with seasonal requirements, proactively identifying constraints and driving solutions to improve material availability and shorten production cycles.
• Support the assessment and onboarding of new Tier 2 suppliers, evaluating technical capability, manufacturing infrastructure, capacity and operational readiness before scaling into bulk production.
• Lead supplier commercial discussions, including seasonal pricing and MOQ/MCQ negotiations, and identify consolidation opportunities in partnership with the A&A Materials Costing team to improve competitiveness and scale.
• Act as the key materials contact for the assigned mainline portfolio, partnering across Material Development, Sourcing, Product Creation, Quality, Planning and Tier 1 factories while maintaining accurate material and supplier information and supporting the broader Tier 2 strategy.

• At least 7 years of experience in textile material development, sourcing or commercialisation.
• Strong technical understanding of textile manufacturing processes, including knitting, weaving, dyeing, finishing and fabric performance requirements.
• Proven experience managing Tier 2 material suppliers, from development handover through commercialisation and bulk production.
• Solid knowledge of material testing, quality standards, approval processes and bulk production readiness.
• Demonstrated ability to manage supplier performance, identify operational risks and drive corrective actions to ensure quality and on-time delivery.
• Experience in capacity planning, production lead-time management and material supply coordination with Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners.
• Familiarity with PLM systems and proficiency in Excel for tracking material development, production status and supplier performance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multicultural teams.
• Proficiency in English.
• An entrepreneurial, proactive and solution-oriented mindset, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to balance competing priorities, technical requirements and execution discipline in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience combining textile manufacturing with international sportswear or apparel brands is preferred.

• Frequent travel across Asia to work directly with manufacturing partners.