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 be a pivotal driver of material excellence across our diverse lifestyle 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 and sustainable solutions that align with ON Running's brand identity.
This role requires a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and possesses a passion for material aesthetics, premium quality, and authentic sustainability. You will report directly 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 development material selection enhances 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: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, adhering to schedules and ensuring clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability & Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials and our innovation and sustainability teams to integrate new preferred materials and commercially viable innovations into inline products. Identify and onboard new material partners and work with global sourcing to build a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Manage Upfront Material Pricing and Lead Times: Ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives in discussions with suppliers.
- Act as a Key Partner: Engage with 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 trims, specializing in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey, as well as a deep understanding of natural and synthetic fibers, sustainability, traceability, and circularity certifications.
- Strategic Vision: Proven ability to identify high-fashion aesthetics and understand industry trends, acting as a strategic consultant to ensure material choices align with premium market positioning.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ensuring effective collaboration with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders, and translating complex design concepts into compelling material narratives.
- Organizational & Operational Skills: Highly attentive to detail with skills in budget oversight and process optimization, demonstrating the ability to implement systems that improve development lead times and reduce costs in a dynamic environment.
- Global Exposure & Network: Experience in global material sourcing, with an established network of premium European and global mills, and expertise in managing factory relationships throughout the production cycle.
- Education: Degree in Fashion, Textiles, or a related creative field from a reputable university, providing a solid understanding of garment construction and textile innovation.
- Language Skills: Fluent in English, both written and spoken; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
Meet the Team
We are responsible for creating innovative products for On, striving to meet the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. Our team engages in extensive research, design, development, and rigorous testing to ensure that only products meeting our high standards reach the market.
What We Offer
On is committed to growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools to develop holistically—fostering activity, learning, exploration, and innovation. Our unique approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, allowing each person to be guided by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to creating a fair and inclusive work environment where all decisions regarding recruitment, advancement, and retention are free from discrimination.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.