Manager, Trends- Color Execution

About the Role

The Color Execution Manager is a hands‑on color leader who blends textile expertise, digital color management, and disciplined visual evaluation to deliver on‑brand color across fabrics and prints for Walmart Fashion brands. This role partners closely with Design, Product Development, Quality, Sourcing, and external vendors and mills to evaluate color submissions and resolve issues from development through bulk production. This is a manager‐level individual contributor role that works daily with a co‑located third‑party Lab Colorist and a third‑party testing lab.

What You’ll Do

• Own color quality execution for assigned categories from development through bulk production, aligning expectations, standards, and timelines with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, and Quality.
• Evaluate and approve or reject color submissions—including lab dips, print strike‑offs, bulk production shade bands, product mock‑ups, and in‑store testing failures—using both digital color data and controlled visual assessment.
• Apply digital color management tools to assess color difference, shade continuity, and acceptability; document decisions and communicate clear pass/fail rationales to internal partners and suppliers.
• Partner daily with a co‑located third‑party Lab Colorist to manage evaluation priorities, service‑level expectations, and escalation or override needs.
• Ensure proper visual color evaluation practices are consistently followed (standard illuminants, calibrated light booths, neutral surroundings, observer practices, and viewing geometry) to minimize variability and metamerism risk.
• Lead root‑cause investigations and corrective actions for color testing failures in partnership with Product Development and Quality; coordinate containment plans and re‑test strategies with vendors and mills.
• Provide technical guidance and training to vendors and mills on color standards, submission requirements, measurement conditions, and process controls impacting color outcomes.
• Maintain and support digital color workflows and libraries (standards, targets, tolerances, and approval records) to ensure traceability and audit‑ready documentation.
• Translate complex color science concepts into clear, practical guidance for non‑technical audiences through training, job aids, and supplier communications.
• Drive continuous improvement in color execution processes while protecting design intent and the customer experience.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Textile Chemistry, Color Science, Materials, Chemistry, or a related field and 2 years’ experience, or 4 years’ experience using instrumental and visual methods to evaluate and approve lab dips, print strike‑offs, yarn dyes, and bulk production.
• Hands‑on experience setting tolerances, managing shade continuity, and making clear pass/fail color decisions.
• Proficiency with textile dyeing, printing, and finishing processes and their impact on color execution.
• Experience using spectrophotometer‑based color measurement and digital color management workflows (e.g., Datacolor, X‑Rite, CSI ColorFlow, Natific ASAP).
• Working knowledge of proper visual color evaluation requirements, including light booth setup, illuminants, calibration, neutral surroundings, and observer practices.
• Proven ability to resolve color testing failures and drive corrective actions with cross‑functional partners and external vendors/mills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to prioritize, follow through, and perform effectively in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Superior color vision, as verified by the Farnsworth‑Munsell 100 Hue Test.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Textiles, Color Science, Materials, Chemistry, or a related field.
• 2+ years’ experience in apparel or fashion color execution supporting bulk production approvals with vendor and mill networks.
• 2+ years’ experience with CSI ColorFlow and/or Natific ASAP, and Datacolor and/or X‑Rite systems, including calibration, measurement conditions, and reporting.
• Experience supporting color accreditation programs, including supplier audits, lab capability verification, SOP development, and training.

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.

The annual salary range for this position is $80,000.00 - $155,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include stock.

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.

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.

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 diversity—unique styles, experiences, identities, abilities, ideas and opinions—while being inclusive of all people.