Canada Goose Fabric Development Lead

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of technical woven fabrics across multiple product categories, from concept through commercialisation.
• Translate design direction and merchandising requirements into fabric development briefs defining aesthetic, performance, sustainability and cost requirements.
• Drive fabric innovation by identifying, evaluating and implementing new materials, constructions, yarns, finishes and technologies.
• Assess risk and quality throughout commercialisation to ensure new fabric concepts are ready and scalable.
• Lead technical discussions on fabric construction and performance requirements, applying in-depth knowledge of testing parameters.
• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, coaching and support to Fabric Developers and Associate Developers across development programmes, aligning work with seasonal timelines and quality expectations.
• Prioritise workload and development activities in line with seasonal calendars and business priorities.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor innovations and material advancements to maintain best-in-class fabric offerings.
• Support fabric presentations, seasonal reviews, material showcases and leadership updates.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure fabric aesthetics and technical requirements meet brand standards.
• Manage fabric development communications and performance discussions with mills and suppliers.
• Drive resourcing and counter-sourcing initiatives to optimise the material portfolio and quality alignment for the brand.
• Apply knowledge of testing methods and standards to support fabric development decisions.
• Collaborate with the Product Integrity & Compliance (PIC) team, which oversees testing protocols, interprets results, and manages material issue resolution and corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate development records in PLM and ERP systems and ensure data integrity.
• Track seasonal development KPIs, including adoption rate, cost efficiency and lead-time adherence.
• Coordinate seasonal sample yardage and fabric requests with Product Development and Sourcing.
• Oversee and maintain the fabric library, ensuring materials are accurately archived, accessible and aligned with seasonal and development needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Textile Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related discipline.
• 6–8 years of experience in performance woven fabric development, with a strong focus on outerwear.
• Strong experience partnering directly with mills, fabric suppliers and testing facilities.
• Demonstrated success leading complex material development and commercialisation programmes.
• Experience working with PLM and ERP systems; Centric PLM experience is an asset.
• Advanced technical knowledge of textile construction, dyeing, finishing, lamination, performance fabrics and testing methodologies.
• Strong understanding of sustainable materials, manufacturing processes and industry innovation trends.
• Proven ability to lead projects and influence stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance innovation, performance, cost and speed to market; strong negotiation skills.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, collaboration and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire collaboration and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Strong project leadership and task prioritisation skills across multiple programmes.

Skills

Experience

6–8 years in performance woven fabric development, with a strong focus on outerwear.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science, Textile Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related discipline.

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from CAD 86,000 to CAD 121,000 per annum.

Benefits

Comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards Program; career-growth opportunities through internal and external programs; Goose Rewards and ICON Rewards; donation matching and paid volunteer time through CG Gives; tools and resources supporting physical and mental health, adapting to change and connecting with colleagues.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.