Senior Raw Materials Manager, Handbags

Overview: The Senior Raw Materials Manager will lead raw material sourcing, development, and commercialization across Veronica Beard’s leather goods accessory collections. Materials include fabrics, leather, suede, synthetics, specialty materials, trims, and hardware. Partnering closely with Design, Product Development, and Production, this role will translate creative direction into materials that meet the brand’s aesthetic, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The ideal candidate combines a strong eye for product with technical expertise and commercial judgment, balancing seasonal innovation with a reliable, scalable supplier base. Responsibilities: Material Sourcing & Development Lead seasonal material sourcing and development in alignment with Design direction, category needs, and development calendars. Identify materials, finishes, and techniques that support Veronica Beard’s brand aesthetic while meeting performance and margin requirements. Build and maintain an organized material library, including approved qualities, color and finish standards, technical specifications, pricing, minimums, and lead times. Identify opportunities to share materials across categories and establish core qualities that support continuity and purchasing efficiency. Supplier Strategy & Accountability Manage relationships with global mills, tanneries, trim vendors, and hardware suppliers. Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, quality, pricing, and delivery performance; recommend new partners or alternate sources where needed. Hold suppliers accountable for development commitments, approved standards, and bulk delivery requirements. Partner with internal teams to support supplier compliance and responsible sourcing requirements. Commercialization & Production Readiness Own the material development process from initial sourcing through sampling, approval, and handoff to bulk production. Coordinate lab dips, strike-offs, leather trials, hardware finishes, and other submissions against seasonal milestones. Ensure approved standards and material specifications are clearly documented and communicated to factories. Anticipate material risks and coordinate solutions that protect design intent, quality, and delivery. Costing & Material Planning Negotiate material pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, and commercial terms to support category margin targets. Partner with Product Development and factories to validate consumption, yields, and waste allowances. Collaborate with Production on material projections, commitments, inventory allocation, and excess material management. Identify opportunities to reduce material liability through consolidation, carryover usage, and disciplined purchasing. Quality & Technical Performance Establish appropriate testing requirements with internal teams and ensure materials meet intended end-use performance standards. Review consistency between development, sample, and bulk materials, including color, finish, hand feel, and durability. Lead supplier resolution of material failures and quality claims, coordinating corrective action with Product Development and Production. Qualifications & Requirements 6+ years of experience in material sourcing, development, or management within contemporary or premium apparel and accessories. Strong technical expertise in fabrics and/or leather, with working knowledge of trims, synthetics, specialty finishes, and hardware. Demonstrated success managing global suppliers and commercializing materials from concept through bulk production. Strong negotiation skills and an understanding of material costing, consumption, minimums, inventory liability, and production lead times. Experience working within seasonal development calendars and balancing competing priorities across categories. Proficiency in PLM systems and Microsoft Excel; familiarity with ERP systems preferred. Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make clear recommen…

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