About the Role
Levi Strauss & Co. is seeking an experienced Product Development Lead for Sustainable Materials & Innovation. This role is crucial for defining, validating, and scaling sustainability into commercial products, with a focus on incorporating recycled cotton and other preferred fibers while maintaining product quality and consumer experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product Creation, Materials Supply Chain, Global Sustainability, Innovation) to integrate sustainable practices.
- Lead end-to-end product development for sustainable materials, translating innovation into manufacturing-ready solutions.
- Define a fabric qualification framework for integrating recycled cotton by fabric type, construction, weight, performance, and finishing.
- Establish commercialization gates from concept through pilot and scale, ensuring alignment on quality, cost, and timing.
- Build partnerships with mills and suppliers to assess capability, manage pilots, validate manufacturability, and support scale-up.
- Oversee durability and performance criteria for redeveloped fabrics, including wash/wear, abrasion, tensile strength, pilling, dimensional stability, and colorfastness.
- Partner with Quality and Testing teams to define fit-for-purpose lab and wear testing protocols.
- Guide root-cause analysis and corrective actions for material and fabric quality issues.
- Maintain data and systems discipline, ensuring materials meet technical specifications, compliance standards, and brand expectations, with accurate documentation in PLM and other product systems.
- Manage development execution against the Go-To-Market calendar, ensuring timely delivery of prototypes, samples, and pre-production materials.
- Partner with Global Design to expand and scale material and product innovations.
- Collaborate with Sustainability and Compliance teams to embed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) readiness, circularity, and regulatory requirements into product development processes.
About You
- 7 years of experience in apparel product development, materials development, fabric R&D, or textile engineering.
- Proficiency in fabric construction, fiber behavior, finishing processes, and their impact on durability and performance.
- Proven experience leading development programs from concept through production.
- Background in quality, testing, and performance standards for apparel fabrics.
- Experience working directly with mills, suppliers, and global sourcing partners.
- Ability to lead without formal authority in a matrixed organization.
- Familiarity with circularity, regulatory considerations in apparel, and experience with recycled cotton or other preferred fibers is a plus.
Work Environment
- Hybrid work schedule based in our San Francisco, CA headquarters.
- Expected in-office presence 3 days per week (typically Tuesday-Thursday), with flexibility based on business needs.
Compensation & Benefits
- Expected starting salary range: $92,300 - $135,300 per year.
- Total rewards package includes base pay, incentive plans, 401(k) matching, paid leave, health insurance, product discounts, and more.
- Benefits and incentive compensation vary by role; details available upon request.
About Levi Strauss & Co.
At Levi Strauss & Co., we encourage individuality and foster a sense of belonging. We are a company of innovators who strive to make a positive impact on the world. We believe our differences make us stronger. Join us to make your voice heard, create an impact, and find your fit and future.
LS&Co. is an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome and value people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences to make LS&Co. a collective success. #LI-Hybrid
EOE M/F/Disability/Vets
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Employment Type: Full Time Application Deadline: This position is expected to be filled by 07/05/2026.