Are you driven by material innovation and the desire to make great products perform at their best? As Fabric Manager at Active Brands you will shape the material story behind our seasonal collections—introducing fabrics and technologies that elevate performance, sustainability and design—while rigorously managing development processes, data and quality to ensure timely, cost‑effective launches. We’re looking for a self‑starter who balances a creative mindset with commercial acumen, brings advanced wool expertise, and demonstrates excellent project‑management skills, organization and attention to detail; your work will uphold the fabric quality standards that keep our brands trusted by professional and everyday athletes.

Key Responsibilities and tasks

• Lead seasonal trend scouting, identify new materials, coatings and membrane technologies, and represent Active Brands at fabric fairs and supplier visits.

• Collaborate with design teams to translate design intent into clear material briefs, prototype plans and pilot projects; run innovation workshops and concept reviews with mills and designers.

• Own the end‑to‑end fabric development process (Fabric Development Sheets, material IDs, timelines), maintain the physical and digital fabric library and ensure metadata/data completeness in systems.

• Maintain supplier and fabric scorecards, recommend portfolio actions (develop, consolidate, onboard, exit) and select/manage strategic R&D mill partners.

• Manage commercial supplier relationships in collaboration with sourcing: preferred vendor matrix, pricing negotiations, MOQ and lead time agreements.

• Owner of the fabric‑level quality standards and testing protocols that describes lab testing (GSM, shrinkage, colourfastness, performance tests), and management of nonconformances and corrective actions.

• Evaluate and govern greige booking decisions with Sourcing and Buying to mitigate prebooking risk and secure production readiness.

• Partner with the ESG Manager to assess sustainable material options and ensure supplier environmental and social compliance.

• Collaborate daily with Design, Sourcing Office (China), Production and ESG to align aesthetics, performance, cost and timing.

Your Qualifications

• Degree in Textile Engineering or equivalent technical textile qualification.

• 8+ years textile/fabric development, sourcing or R&D experience in apparel (sportswear preferred).

• Strong working knowledge of knit (wool and synthetics) and woven constructions, finishes, coatings, membrane technologies, non-woven and performance textile testing protocols.

•         Proven track record developing materials from concept to technical production sign‑off.

•         Experience working with overseas sourcing teams and suppliers (China experience an advantage).

•         Proficiency in Excel and ERP systems.

•         Commercial negotiation experience and supplier/vendor management skills.

•         Fluent in English. Chinese and/or Norwegian are a plus.

•         Willingness and flexibility to travel (approx. 25–30 days/year).

Who are we looking for?

We are aiming at someone who is....

• Curious, innovation‑driven and trend‑orientated.

•         Hands‑on problem solver with strong technical attention to detail.

•         Excellent stakeholder management and ability to influence without direct reports.

•         Organized, deadline‑driven and able to manage multiple development tracks concurrently.

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What can we Offer?

You will get a key role in a dynamic, international product creation team - with direct impact on seasonal collections and material strategy.

·        We have an ambitious, creative and collaborative environment across strong Nordic brands. Competitive compensation and benefits, great office space and growth opportunities withing the company.

Active Brands is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.