(USA) Senior Manager, Quality Assurance- Fabric, Materials, R&D

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

Senior Manager, Quality Assurance- Fabric, Materials, R&D Location: Onsite in Bentonville, AR. Role Summary The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance – Fabric, Materials & R&D leads the end-to-end quality strategy for fabrics, trims, and material components used across the fashion category. This role ensures materials meet internal performance standards and applicable regulatory, safety, and sustainability requirements. You will partner closely with Product Development, Sourcing, Merchandising, and suppliers to prevent defects, strengthen material performance, and continuously improve quality outcomes for customers. What You’ll Do:

• Set material quality strategy: Define and evolve the QA vision, standards, and governance for fabrics, trims, and related materials across the product lifecycle.
• Build and lead a high-performing team: Manage, coach, and develop a team of QA professionals responsible for material evaluation, testing, and issue resolution.
• Own material qualification and approval: Establish criteria and processes for material selection, onboarding, and approval in partnership with Product Development and Sourcing.
• Supplier quality management: Partner with global suppliers and mills to ensure compliance with company requirements and regulatory standards; drive supplier capability improvements.
• Testing and certification oversight: Own testing protocols, lab partnerships, certifications, and documentation (e.g., performance, safety, restricted substances, sustainability claims) to ensure audit-ready records.
• Issue resolution and prevention: Lead root cause analysis for material failures; implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verify effectiveness.
• Continuous improvement: Drive initiatives to reduce defects, improve material consistency, shorten resolution cycle time, and optimize cost without compromising quality.
• Risk management: Identify emerging material risks (performance, compliance, supply chain variability) and implement controls to mitigate impact.
• Metrics and executive reporting: Define KPIs (e.g., defect rates, supplier performance, test pass rates, claims/returns drivers) and present insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Industry and regulatory leadership: Stay current on textile/material innovations, testing methodologies, and evolving regulations and sustainability expectations.

What You’ll Bring:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Quality Management, or related field (master’s preferred).
• Experience: 7+ years in quality assurance with a strong focus on textiles/fashion materials; experience influencing cross-functional partners.
• Technical expertise: Deep knowledge of textile/material performance testing, quality systems, and relevant regulatory/compliance requirements.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success leading QA teams and driving complex, cross-functional programs.
• Analytical/problem solving: Strong capability in data-driven decision-making, root cause analysis, and CAPA execution.
• Supplier collaboration: Experience working with global suppliers, mills, and manufacturing partners.
• Communication: Clear, executive-ready communication and the ability to translate technical findings into business actions.
• Preferred: Six Sigma, CQE, or other quality certifications.
   
  Benefits & Perks:
  Beyond competitive pay, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, paid time off, multiple health plans, and much more.
  
  Equal Opportunity Employer:
  Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers, and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting, and valuing unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas and opinions while being welcoming of all people.
  
  Who We Are:
  Join Walmart and your work could help over 275 million global customers live better every week. Yes, we are the Fortune #1 company. But you'll quickly find were a company who wants you to feel comfortable bringing your whole self to work. A career at Walmart is where the worlds most complex challenges meet a kinder way of life. Our mission spreads far beyond the walls of our stores. Join us and you'll discover why we are a world leader in sustainability and community involvement. From day one, you'll be empowered and equipped to do the best work of your life.careers.walmart.com

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $180,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
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Minimum Qualifications...

Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.

Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in fashion design, textile design, or related area and 13 years’ experience in apparel design, garment construction, or related area.
Option 2: 15 years’ experience in apparel design, garment construction, or related area.
10 years’ supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications...

Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.

Experience managing global design operations., Thought leadership in fashion industry forums or publications., Track record of leading design transformation and innovation.

Masters: Business, Masters: Communication, Masters: Computer Engineering, Masters: Education

Six Sigma - Certification

Primary Location...

600 Integrity Dr, Bentonville, AR 72716, United States of America

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.