Senior Materials Manager, Leathergoods and Shoes

Ref#: W182984 Department: Manufacturing & Sourcing City: New York State/Province: New York Location: United States Pay Range: $85,000 - $161,444 annually; actual pay is dependent on experience and geographic location Company Description Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration. Position Overview The Senior Materials Manager, Leathergoods and Shoes will lead the strategic development and execution of materials for Leather Goods and Shoes, driving material innovation, sourcing direction, and seasonal material strategies that support brand vision, quality standards, cost objectives, and long-term business goals. This role serves as a key cross-functional leader, partnering with Design, Product Management, Global Sourcing, Product Integrity, Sustainability, and Raw Materials teams to influence material direction from concept through commercialization. The Senior Manager will establish material strategies and roadmaps that balance innovation, quality, sustainability, cost, and speed to market while identifying opportunities to elevate product differentiation and operational efficiency. This individual will leverage deep material expertise and industry knowledge to drive strategic decision-making, strengthen vendor partnerships, and ensure successful execution across multiple product categories. The ideal candidate brings extensive expertise in leather and material development, strong strategic and analytical capabilities, and a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex cross-functional initiatives in a global environment. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Develop and execute the seasonal and long-range leather and material strategy for Leather Goods and Shoes, ensuring alignment with brand, product, sourcing, and financial objectives. Research and propose new novelty leathers and materials, finishes, animations, and material innovations through competitive market research, supplier engagement, leather library reviews, studio partnerships, local shows, and industry intelligence. Influence category leather direction by providing strategic recommendations, competitive intelligence, article insights, and execution guidance to cross-functional leadership teams. Lead end-to-end leather & material development initiatives, ensuring alignment with product requirements, quality standards, cost targets, testing requirements, and commercialization timelines. Embed within product teams to build strong line knowledge and ensure leather and material decisions clearly support product needs, including alignment of trim leathers, body materials, constructions, and seasonal design intent. Manage leather sampling, submit tracking, and prototype support to enable timely product development execution and informed decision-making throughout the seasonal calendar. Establish leather & material sourcing strategies and partner with Global Sourcing, Raw Materials, regional offices, tanneries, and vendor partners to optimize quality, innovation, cost, lead times, and supply chain resilience. D…

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