Director, Materials Development

Job Title:

Director, Materials Development

About Bombas:

Bombas is a comfort focused premium basics brand with a mission to help those in need. The company launched in 2013, after the founders learned that socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. From there, they set out to solve that problem, donating a pair of socks for every pair they sell. How do you donate a lot of socks? You sell a lot. And how do you sell a lot? You make the most comfortable socks in the history of feet. Millions of pairs sold and donated later, Bombas has continued to innovate within its mission and product, introducing new socks, as well as underwear and t-shirts, the #2 and #3 most requested clothing items at homeless shelters, all while continuing to make a positive impact on the community where we all work and live.

Click here to see what it's like to work inside the Bombas Hive!

The word Bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebees. Bees work together to make their hive a better place. At Bombas, we’re inspired by that. We know it’s the collective efforts of our team that keeps the Hive alive and strong - a team that is diverse and inclusive. Different perspectives strengthen our ability to make the most comfortable versions of the products people wear closest to their bodies every day and to serve the communities where we all work and live. We are committed to continuously building a Hive where all are welcomed, seen, and heard regardless of age, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, genetics, physical or mental ability, protected veteran status, race, religion and sexual orientation. As a team, we will strive to create room for different experiences and empower all voices.

About the Job:

We are looking for a strategic, outcomes-driven leader to join our Sourcing team as Director, Materials Development, reporting to the Vice President, Sourcing & Product Development.

This role owns the long-term materials strategy and roadmap across all product categories, ensuring Bombas continues to deliver best-in-class comfort, quality, innovation, and margin performance as we scale. You will partner closely with Design, Production, Quality, Finance, and external suppliers to translate company strategy into material choices that support both near-term execution and long-term growth.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Own and evolve the multi-year materials development and sourcing roadmap, aligning material strategy with Bombas’ product vision, growth plans, and financial goals.
• Set the vision and priorities for materials innovation across all product categories, balancing experimentation with scalability, quality, cost, and speed to market.
• Lead and oversee seasonal materials development across yarns, fabrics, trims, and packaging, ensuring alignment with design intent and go-to-market timelines.
• Define and own the materials risk strategy, including supplier partnerships, geographic diversification, and contingency planning to support long-term business continuity.
• Own materials-related financial performance and costing, partnering with Finance and Product Development to establish cost targets, evaluate tradeoffs, and support margin and IMU goals.
• Partner with Production on capacity planning, material staging, and lead-time strategy to support reliable and flexible delivery to market.
• Establish standards and governance for materials systems and data, ensuring PLM and related tools enable cross-functional clarity, scalability, and informed decision-making.
• Oversee material testing standards and approvals, partnering with Quality and Production to resolve material issues and ensure consistent performance at scale.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing materials organization, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and evolving team structure as the business grows.
• Serve as a materials subject-matter leader across the organization, mentoring cross-functional partners on material construction, innovation, quality, and cost implications.

What we’ll love about you:

• Strong knowledge of all aspects of material sourcing, development and production 
• Passion to take on challenges and problem solve
• Strong cost negotiation skills
• A team player who is willing and happy to help
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Belief in our mission and understand the importance of giving-back
• Inquisitive, love to learn, embrace failure, and never give up
• Comfortable staying focused while working in any type of environment

What you’ll love about us:

• We are a team of smart, interesting, diverse, funny, and loving people.
• We offer competitive compensation, employer paid health, medical and dental benefits, 401k with match, paid parental leave, snacks, socks and a fun, relaxed office environment.
• We take the responsibility to make sure you are excited, happy, and find fulfillment in your work very seriously.
• We value fun. This is why we host office lunches, offsite team outings and company retreats.
• We believe in giving back to the community and helping those in need, which is why we volunteer as a team regularly.
• We believe success comes from the collective effort of all, which is why all full-time employees receive equity in the business.
• We understand the value of health, relaxation, spending time with friends and family, and traveling the world and offer flexible paid time off for all full-time employees. This includes over 20 paid company holidays, year-round "Flexible Fridays" and unlimited vacation, sick, and wellness days.
• We understand the importance of communication and offer a monthly phone stipend for all full-time employees.
• We believe a healthy body equals a healthy mind, so we offer a $100 monthly wellbeing reimbursement to all full-time employees.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel, Textiles, Materials Manufacturing, Design or related field
• 10+ years of raw materials and textiles sourcing and development experience and a minimum of 5+ years at a management level
• Extensive knowledge of raw materials, yarn, fabric, trims, packaging development, construction, product cost, quality and production 
• Deadline driven with excellent communication skills and is proactive in approach to problem solving
• Proficient in PLM, Google applications and/or MS Office preferred 
• Ability to travel domestically and globally (5-10% of the year)

Bombas is committed to delivering competitive and equitable pay for our employees.

Each component of the Bombas total rewards package, including benefits and pay, is aimed at contributing to an environment where team members have resources to  manage their lives and are enabled to focus on doing their best work.

The pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $130,000 and $148,000/year. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, market factors, and business need.

The Bombas total rewards package offered for this position may also include other elements, such as annual bonus and equity target award opportunities as well as medical, financial, and well-being benefits. Additional details of these benefits will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.

If hired, the position is “at-will” and the Company reserves the right to modify any component, plan, or program of the total rewards package at any time, for any reason.