Who we are
lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.
About this role
Sr Manager, Raw Materials Process Excellence & Technology, is responsible for managing and leading lululemon’s mandate of setting the standard of the highest quality in raw material manufacturing. The vision of the role is to lead, manage & proactively pursue manufacturing & process initiatives for Raw Materials, covering end-end manufacturing processes and ensuring our vendors are operating at best-in-class process efficiencies and with the best manufacturing capabilities.
Your technical experience will provide consistent information being transferred on every level, from design to mill, production, and RM development, to information passed between LLOs in Asia and Vancouver. You will coordinate with the SSC teams and RM vendors on strategic requests and lead process efficiency projects. You will also coordinate with our prints and colourisation teams in SSC and lead your team in LLO on strategic initiatives.
By working closely with members of the global Product and Product Engine teams, Sr Manager, Raw Materials Process Excellence & Technology will implement, automate, streamline, and enroll all staff members in a comprehensive manufacturing & process excellence initiative without compromising lululemon’s design flare and time to market.
A day in the life:
Strategy and Leadership
- Reviews the manufacturing infrastructure of our vendor base and collaborate on vendor improvement strategies
- Ensure cohesive manufacturing & process excellence procedures and initiatives for Raw Material suppliers from Development to Bulk
- Develop, implement, and continuously refine any RM manufacturing & process excellence program
- Train, supervise and coach a team of Process Excellence experts in all aspects of the role, technical, people & process
- Partner with the SSC Colorization team to ensure vendors are developing and executing bulk to the highest standards
- Proactively engage upstream cross-function partners on risk identification and mitigation
- Build and ensure the RM process excellence database is updated and easily referenced for KPI management.
- Empowers vendors to own and streamline approval processes
- Partner with the SSC Costing team and RM Vendor on Process Excellence initiatives and ensure that process loss standards are established through continuous improvement work
- Lead PE team in educating cross-functional partners on PE playbook standards
- Influence development, production, quality, and innovation processes through the lens of process excellence
- Lead water efficiency improvement initiatives with vendors and support vendor environment program
- Lead a team of Print experts in ensuring our print vendors are set up for success, maintaining high operational KPIs
- Partner with SSC colourisation and sourcing teams in supporting new vendor exploration.
- On-site visits to ensure vendors are compliant with LLL protocols
- Visit mills to monitor pre-production to ensure a successful bridge from development to bulk production.
- Prepare and execute pre-production handover information with the mills
- Ensure RM bulk consistency with the RM team and vendors (both testing and QA inspection)
- Provide feedback in the form of the RM Scorecard and RM Sourcing Strategy
- Create strong correlation data to reduce discrepancies between mills and garment vendors
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Textiles or related field
- 12 years+ of textile experience with at least 5 years in a cross-functional apparel industry quality control role, preferably in a sports performance company
- Strong knowledge of technical fabrics, including their processes, limitations, and risk assessment skills
- Proactive, problem-solving, with a strong ability to analyse workflow and access bottlenecks
- Ability and willingness to accept and provide feedback
- Agile, dependable, with strong self-awareness, with a desire for constant self-improvement (goal-oriented)
- Genuinely cares about developing and coaching others to drive strategy and achieve results through others
- Ability to travel internationally
- Excellent communication skills - verbal and written
- Extraordinary customer service, organisational and time management skills
- Preferred knowledge and involvement in yoga and/or other fitness, health, or sports activities
- Fluency in English. Proficiency in the Chinese language would be an added advantage
- Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.
- Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
- Communicates with honesty and kindness, and creates the space for others to do the same.
- Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
- Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
- Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
