Material & Colour Developer

Vessi is one of North America’s fastest growing sneaker start-ups. Founded in 2018, we’re on a mission to inspire happiness in all-weather by creating everyday wear that gets people out there, rain or shine.

We believe change happens from the ground up, starting with our all-weather, everyday sneakers. We’ve sold over 1,500,000 pairs and we’re just getting started.

Want to help shape the next global footwear brand? If you’re a perpetually curious, growth-minded problem solver with big ideas and the skills to back them up, let’s chat!

To learn more, visit www.vessi.com.

Overview
We’re on the hunt for a Material & Colour Developer to join our Product team at Vancouver HQ! Reporting to our Director of Product, you’ll play a key role in driving our mission of creating the best waterproof products for everyday use.

It’s an exciting time to join Vessi as we plan to expand our product categories and continue to expand on our DTC channel and omnichannel strategies. As part of our growth, this is an opportunity where you’ll be empowered to manage and grow the design & development of our footwear category, its performance and quality, the delivery of our products on time against GTM timelines and participate in the strategic planning of the future of our footwear assortment.

We’re looking for a proactive team player who is experienced in the creation of material and colour palettes and the development of those materials across different product categories (footwear, apparel and bags). You will research, source, develop and approve raw materials that meet the product trends, standards and requirements. If you’re a solutions-oriented and resourceful developer who is passionate about joining us for the ride, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do:

• Collaborate with the design & development team (across various product categories) to define the seasonal material (main and trims) and colour palettes
• Collaborate with the design team in researching seasonal trends and innovations relative to materials and their applications
• Collaborate with the sourcing & production team to ensure material specs and standards are clearly communicated and met in development and production
• Collaborate closely with designers & developers throughout the GTM calendar to ensure materials & colour aesthetic and performance requirements are met
• Accountable for material and colour development deliverables and timeline with vendors
• Present regular research and develop new raw materials that are tested and approved for use in seasonal developments
• Accountable for seasonal colour development from lab dips to approvals for production
• Test, evaluate and document (ex: material information sheets, testing reports, etc.) materials and colours to ensure they meet Vessi’s standards
• Develop and maintain an organized material library with up-to-date documentation
• Proactively report roadblocks in the development process, and manage and take initiative to resolve the issue with cost-effective and timely solutions to minimize financial and lead-time risks
• Represent the function in cross-functional meetings and ensuring decisions around materials developments are aligned with our long-term product and business priorities
• Communicate risk factors early on in the development process to the product team

Other Stuff You’ll Get Involved With:

• Refine our materials development process & document SOPs
• Research, innovate and develop future state material performance improvements and ideas in collaboration with category managers
• Evaluate, alongside our sourcing teams, potential new supplier’s capabilities, capacities, and ability to develop and deliver fabric which adhere to quality, cost, environmental and social responsibility requirements
• Identify and leverage innovation opportunities for high performance, durability and technically feasible materials

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Materials Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in performance material and colour development (ideally in the footwear industry)
• 3+ years of experience collaborating with overseas partners & vendors
• Solid understanding of footwear production and how raw materials impact the final product
• Thorough understanding of inherent RM limitations and potential impacts relating to their respective development projects
• Thorough understanding of waterproof, water resistant and water repellent material performance features and applications
• Strong knowledge of material & colour execution and production processes
• Clear understanding of end-to-end material development process
• Exceptional organization skills with high attention to detail
• Willingness to “do what must be done” or “out of the ordinary” and adapt to different working styles to ensure target goals and timelines are met
• Strong experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign & Photoshop
• Strong knowledge of Google Workspace & Microsoft Office
• Able to travel multiple times a year (international & domestic)
• Collaborative personality with highly effective communication skills
• Ability to effectively collect information, analyze insights and provide feedback in a concise and professional manner
• Exceptionally curious and open-minded to try new things/ways, test the boundaries and try again

It’s a Bonus If You Are/Have:

• Fluent in Mandarin
• Experience using a PLM system
• Experience implementing new processes
• Experience in footwear, apparel or bags development

What You’ll Get:

• Opportunity to help build an ever-evolving brand and help us achieve Vessi’s vision which is to inspire happier communities
• Competitive salary
• 3 weeks paid vacation
• Professional development opportunities
• Extended health benefits package including an EAP and a $500 annual Health & Wellness Spending Account
• $250 WFH Reimbursement
• 40% Family & Friends Discount
• Free Vessi product and 50% Employee Discount
• Summer Fridays (half day)
• Flexibility to work remotely and from our beautiful office in Yaletown
• Dog-friendly office

At Vessi, we are committed to building an environment where all team members feel welcome and have the opportunity to succeed. We believe that a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion allows us to truly fulfill our mission and live out our core values. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives and skillsets to apply.

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