The Materials Research Specialist role will support the raw material development by working closely with the materials, trim and Color development team, cross-functional partners, liaison offices, and raw material partners. Drive the operational functions of moving from concept to commercialization within established timelines. This position partners closely with individuals both inside and outside the organization. Internal contacts include members of the Product Creation Team, including Design, Merchandising, Product Development, Quality Assurance, Sourcing, and Planning both in the home office and abroad. HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE Support raw material development from concept to commercialization for Columbia Sportswear Brand print and yarn dyes. Collaborate with cross-functional partners in the home and liaison offices to ensure critical information related to the development of the raw material and Color is available. Assist the Materials Research team in ensuring that the system data for materials, trims, and colors is updated and accurate. Assist the Materials Research team on projects and development as needed. Maintain reports, records, files, and samples about the process and/or materials. Pull data and reports for business analysis on a regular cadence. Coordinate cross-functional team meetings and vendor meetings. Manage Color Tools, such as color Standards, Chips, and libraries, to support the Color services area. Coordinate receipt and distribution of lab dips/prints and yarn dye for cross-functional review. Aid the team in Maintaining and ensuring that the PDM and Air Table systems have accurate data, test results, dates, and other related information. Facilitate the procurement of seasonal inspiration and material samples and maintain a material library and quality sample files. Partner with team members to build product knowledge and skill sets and stay abreast of new technologies in the textile market. Pursue innovation at the product and process level to build efficiency and effectiveness. YOU ARE Possess superb organizational skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet strict timelines, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and work extended hours if necessary. Ability to motivate individuals involved in the development process. Ability to maintain positive open lines of communication with all Columbia Sportswear management, staff, and other departments in order to contribute to the smooth flow of information and effective operation of the organization. Stay current on trends, understand the market and how it pertains to Columbia Sportswear, and keep abreast of product sales information. Utilize basic knowledge of fabrics, trims, color development, and manufacturing processes. YOU HAVE Bachelor’s degree in textiles or related specialization and/or a minimum of one year experience in materials development/materials laboratory, sourcing, or related field. Must have basic knowledge of textiles, familiarity with textile construction methods and manufacturing, materials testing, and appropriate interaction with lab results about products. Possess working knowledge of materials and functional aspects of garments. Possess basic knowledge of color terminology. Must demonstrate visual acuity for analyzing color samples (pass FM 100 Color Hue Test) Possess strong written and verbal communication skills to deal with various levels of management, employees, and vendors within the organization. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Tools This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. Columbia Sportswear is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/pdf/pay-transp_ English_formattedESQA508c.pdf Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter. At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available. Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment. Our four primary brands — Columbia®, Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL® and prAna® — complement each other to address the diverse needs of active consumers and their products have gained an international reputation for their innovation, quality and performance. Learn more about our family of brands here.