VP OF MATERIALS

JOB DESCRIPTION

Simplifyber is searching for a Vice President of Materials. This is a full-time position in a fast-paced, fast-growing startup. Collaborative, creative, multi-disciplinary team, blending scientific innovation with design, fashion and business. Compensation will include both salary and equity. Expertise in Material Science and/or Chemical Engineering is required. Hands-on Biomaterials Science experience is a plus. Experience in material innovation for fashion or other soft goods is a plus. The right candidate will ideally have 5+ years of experience improving/industrializing/scaling biomaterials science innovations.

 

COMPANY INFORMATION

Simplifyber is changing the way clothing is created, transforming the world's $1.5 trillion Apparel Industry and 250-year old factory system into sustainable, additive manufacturing. By assembling clothes with chemistry rather than with sewing machines, the Simplifyber process eliminates much of the waste, carbon emissions, and water pollution that have led to fashion’s devastating environmental and social impact in recent years. Efficient, plant-based and closed-loop, Simplifyber is revolutionizing the way the world manufactures clothing with its proprietary technology and cutting-edge techniques.

Location: New York, NY; Nashville, TN; Raleigh, NC.  We also have two additional remote teams in Canada: one in Vancouver, the other is near Montreal.  Occasional travel between locations will be required.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

  • Work directly with the founding team to shape the materials roadmap of the company

  • Lead, manage, and enhance the material component of the product (improving the mechanical properties as well as the look and hand-feel of the materials)

  • Lead strategic planning to achieve business goals by identifying and prioritizing development initiatives and setting timetables for the evaluation, development, and deployment of all technology enabled solutions

  • Communicate with and lead our internal materials team as well as our external materials teams

  • Identify opportunities for innovation to drive better performance and competitive differentiation

  • Communicate the company's technology strategy to investors, management, staff, partners, customers, and stakeholders

  • Recruit, supervise, and mentor internal and external engineers, and other technical resources

  • Provide strategic and actionable ideas for innovation and business capability development

  • Oversee the documentation of all work pertaining to the development and refinement of our materials

  • Coordinate with the hardware and software engineers who are also working on this multidisciplinary project

  • Oversee documentation of results/process and labeling of samples

  • Assist with grant/patent applications

 

REQUIREMENTS

  • Must have an entrepreneurial spirit, very responsive, hands-on (i.e., ability to do some of the engineering yourself) and willing to work hard, in a fast-paced environment

  • Experience managing a technology team

  • Experience with product innovation, at an early stage

  • Experience with creating minimum viable products (MVPs) and, testing, iterating, and prototyping

  • Experience with commercializing a product, post prototype phase

  • Experience with bringing a product to market

  • Ability to prepare budgets, with regard to a technical roadmap

  • Excellent communication skills

  • Proven leadership abilities with high-performing teams

  • High emotional intelligence

  • Knowledge of sustainable material innovation, bioproducts or papermaking is a plus

  • Ability to work well under direction but stay highly motivated without supervision

  • Fancy degrees are a plus, but not required. We care more about what you've built / accomplished

  • 5+ years of relevant experience

  • MS and/or PhD is preferred

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO APPLY…

Send an email with your CV/resume to jobs@simplifyber.com, and be sure to write “VP OF MATERIALS” in the subject line.