Job Title: Senior Lead Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collabs, and Special Projects in Apparel
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collabs, and Special Projects in Apparel, you will play a crucial role in driving material excellence across our diverse product ranges. Your expertise will significantly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. You will inspire cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, championing ambitious, sustainable solutions aligned with ON Running's brand identity.
This role calls for a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and has a passion for material aesthetics, premium quality, and authentic sustainability. You will report to the Head of Apparel Material and collaborate closely with Apparel Design, Product Management, and Development.
Your Mission
- Guide, Curate, and Develop a Premium Material Palette: Ensure that material selections enhance the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design identity as the world's most premium sports brand. Continuously feed a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Concept Stage through Commercialization Handoff Material Development: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, adhering to the project calendar and ensuring clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability & Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials, along with our innovation and sustainability teams, to integrate new preferred materials and commercially ready innovations into inline products. Identify and onboard new material partners, coordinating with global sourcing to build a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Manage Upfront Material Pricing and Lead Times: Align material pricing and lead times with project goals and business objectives through effective supplier communication.
- Partner with Product Creation Stakeholders: Act as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.
Your Story
- Experience: 15-20+ years of distinguished global experience in apparel and material development, with a strong focus on luxury fashion, high-end RTW (Ready-to-Wear), and lifestyle products.
- Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of materials and trim, specializing in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey. Deep understanding of natural and synthetic fiber types, with expertise in sustainability, traceability, and circularity certifications.
- Strategic Vision: Proven eye for high-fashion aesthetics and awareness of industry trends, acting as a strategic consultant to ensure material choices align with premium market positioning and design-led brand identity.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills to engage with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders, translating complex design concepts into dynamic visual material narratives understood by Product Marketing.
- Organizational & Operational Skills: Detail-oriented with expertise in budget oversight and process optimization, demonstrated ability to implement systems that enhance development lead times and reduce costs in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure & Network: Proven experience with global material sourcing and established relationships with premium European and global mills, managing factory relationships throughout the full production cycle.
- Education: Degree in Fashion, Textiles, or a related creative field from a reputable university, providing a strong foundational understanding of garment construction and textile innovation.
- Fluency in English: Proficient in both written and spoken English; additional languages are a plus.
Meet the Team
We are responsible for creating innovative products for On. Our mission is to meet the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. Thus, we conduct extensive research, design, develop, and test numerous ideas both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that pass our rigorous testing standards ever go to market.
What We Offer
On is an organization focused on growth and progress. We foster an environment that empowers individuals to develop holistically – to remain active, learn, explore, and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, ensuring that each person operates with purpose.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, ensuring that all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.