Raw Materials Manager

at  Portwest

PORTWEST, a leading global manufacturer of safety wear, workwear and PPE is currently seeking applications for the position of Raw Materials Manager in Manchester. Portwest is one of the fastest growing workwear companies in the world currently employing over 5,300 staff worldwide, with customer service staff in over 130+ countries and 11 Global warehouses in UK, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, UAE, USA and Australia. We design, manufacture and distribute market leading workwear, safety wear and PPE in fully owned production facilities.
JOB TITLE: Raw Materials Manager
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time
REPORTS TO: Head of Product
JOB SUMMARY: The Raw Materials Manager will support our mission to be the worlds’ most trusted and requested supplier of safety wear. Driving fabric innovation and ensuring consistent quality and cost effective and efficient souring practices, will be at the core of this role. This person will also upskill the wider product team, deepening our technical fabric knowledge. The candidate will work to support the goals set out in the Portwest Planet program, to reduce the business’s environmental impact.

REQUIREMENTS

• Extensive experience in reviewing and enhancing quality procedures, particularly in the textile or fabric industry.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing robust SOPs, QC programs, and test methods to minimize waste, cost, and time delays due to fabric quality issues.
• Deep understanding of technical performance fabrics, including sourcing, development, and the introduction of innovative, eco-conscious solutions.
• Experience working with design and product management teams to lead the development of sustainable fabrics and solutions that align with environmental priorities.
• Strong leadership skills in fabric sourcing workflow optimization, including reducing evaluation time and improving speed to market.

• Review and improve Portwest’ s quality procedures and introduce improved SOPS’s where necessary. The aim is to reduce waste, cost and time delays caused by fabric quality issues. This includes ensuring fabric specifications, QC program and test methods are robust, and suppliers are engaged and empowered to keep standards high.
• Bringing your own ideas and inspiration, work with our Designers and Product Managers to lead the development and sourcing of innovative technical performance fabrics. The introduction of eco conscious solutions should remain a priority.
• Streamline the fabric sourcing workflow, reducing evaluation time and ultimately improving speed to market of finished goods and time frame to realise cost savings from new fabric sources.
• Working with procurement, lead consolidation and cost saving initiatives, to streamline and reduce cost in the fabric supply chain, always looking for cost neutral ways to support the Portwest Planet program.
• Develop enhanced relationships with our fabric mills and trim suppliers, developing a program that supports innovation, quality management and enhanced service.
• Work with the product and fabric teams in Europe and Asia to continually improve the team’s technical knowledge. Travel overseas to Asia and within Europe will be required.
• Represent Portwest at events, forums, focus groups, trade fairs etc.
• Close liaison with Marketing and Learning and Development teams to create technical content for internal and external training purposes.
• Work closely with our Sustainability program manager to ensure leadership in our field in terms of eco-conscious policy and initiatives
• Keep abreast of legislative changes in PPE and ensure all fabrics products are fully compliant with the appropriate legislation.
• Through your network and experience introduce Portwest to new fabric partners and develop new and existing relationships with our fabric mills