Senior Manager, Materials Sourcing

Tecovas is the first direct-to-consumer western brand, founded with the simple goal of making the world’s best western boots, apparel and leather goods - and selling them at a fair price. We are a brand revolutionizing a category and welcoming first-time boot buyers and western enthusiasts alike. 

Tecovas is looking for a Senior Manager, Materials Sourcing to own long and short term material sourcing and innovation from briefing and design through to approved final prototypes.

This position is based out of Austin, TX  and includes some flexibility to work remotely from time to time. There is travel between Austin, Leon, Mexico or Asia multiple times per year. 

What you’ll do:

• Collaborate with design, development, and product line management teams to procure and present raw materials that meet brand standards and creative needs for seasonal product development. 
• Work with tanneries to create and offer materials which achieve the desired consumer facing aesthetic while maintaining production and quality viability.
• Effectively evaluate leathers and materials for physical characteristics and function in order to select appropriate materials for development projects and ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Own long-term raw material innovation and development with new and existing partners.
• Make raw material recommendations to design and development teams for use on relevant products that meet requirements of seasonal briefs.
• Work with team to develop seasonal color palettes, procure tannery seasonal books, and set up vendor meetings to present leathers to team members. 
• Document and track leather development accurately throughout the entire process while clearly communicating results, improvements, and final approval that meet product creation timelines. 
• Work with Product Development and Commercialization teams on approval and standardization of color windows for use with tanneries and factory partners. 
• Research sustainability opportunities where possible to support current market trends. 
• Maintain close pulse and understanding of material needs of the brand. 
• Own initial raw material cost negotiations to support corporate gross margin goals
• Research material trends through an understanding of the market and travel to seasonal trade shows. 
• Maintain open and transparent communication across corporate and overseas teams. 
• Strive for continuous improvement in areas of product integrity and ongoing efficiency improvements. 
• Responsible for traveling to international tanneries and factories to ensure rapid communication for raw material development as well as relationship development. 
• Keep library of materials and color window approvals updated and accessible to all team members.
• Keep an updated inventory of leathers and other components at headquarters.
• Serve as a key stakeholder, working side by side with designers and developers to source, review and enhance quality and consistency. 

Experience we’re looking for:

• 10+ years’ experience in materials sourcing and innovation. 
• Strong and extensive knowledge and technical skills in leather sourcing and innovation. 
• Experience working with color windows, approvals and specifying leather finishes. 
• Working knowledge of product development and quality assurance in materials. 
• Creative thinker, strategic problem-solver with strong leadership skills.
• Strong communication skills, ability to build and support cross-functional partnerships. 
• Experience with environmentally sustainable sourcing.
• Strong understanding of footwear development steps and process from inception to approved samples. 
• Experience working and clearly communicating with Asia based offices and vendors. Additional experience working in Mexico a plus. 

What you bring to the table:

• You possess the skills of leather development and footwear manufacturing necessary to trouble shoot possible issues, recommend, and implement solutions. 
• You can easily interpret material and design intent/product needs and offer solutions.
• You are a self-starter that thrives in a start-up environment; a quick learner; an out of the box thinker, and active problem solver. 
• Your skills include being a highly effective collaborator and team player with a track record for excellent communication and relationship building.
• You are detail oriented with exceptional follow through skills. 
• You possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• You are a positive contributor with a team based attitude and part of the solution, offering your insights and digging in to do the work, while keeping the Brand’s DNA the focus.
• You have proven experience in materials sourcing and calendar adherence.

Full Time Benefits & Perks: 

• We offer insurance plans that pay 99% of your health premium coverage and 100% of your dental & vision insurance coverage for your family/dependents
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible PTO policy
• Corporate wellness program
• Competitive salary
• Generous employee discounts!

About Us:

Tecovas was born out of a love for cowboy boots, their time-honored craftsmanship, rich materials that last, and traditional styling that always looks good. Each pair of Tecovas boots is crafted by hand in over 200 steps. It’s not the easiest or cheapest method, but we’re committed to classic construction techniques that stand the test of time. With 21 retail stores (and counting) across the Austin, Dallas and Southeast regions, we’re bringing western goods into new frontiers and aim to be the most welcoming brand in western. We’re certainly growing- and hiring passionate, humble, positive, and talented people determined to help us continue to grow!

Important note: We strive to hire values-aligned people because we believe it takes each and all of us to be successful, and lead with grit, speed and a clear vision of where we’re headed. In a remote setting, interviewing at Tecovas may include phone interviews, virtual “on-site” interviews, and on-the-job mock cases. We are committed to run a thorough process for candidates with whom we identify a potential match, and we will do our best to follow-up with each and every applicant! If you’re on the fence, just give it a try!

Hiring process and disclaimer: Should you receive an offer from us after going through the interview process, a background check will be conducted prior to onboarding. The results of a background check are evaluated as part of the hiring process, but this does not mean that you will not be considered for the job based upon the results. We are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage everyone to apply!