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 pivotal role in driving material excellence across our diverse apparel ranges. Your expertise will significantly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. You will inspire cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, advocating for ambitious, sustainable solutions that align with ON Running's brand identity.
This role is ideal for a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and is passionate about material aesthetics, premium quality, and authentic sustainability. You will report to the Head of Apparel Material and work 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 identity as the world's most premium sports brand and adhering to high-quality standards. Continuously feed a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Concept Stage through Commercialization Handoff of Material Development: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, maintaining clear communication with suppliers and following project timelines.
- Drive Sustainability & Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials, as well as innovation and sustainability teams, to integrate new preferred materials and commercially viable innovations into inline products. Identify and onboard new material partners while liaising with global sourcing to build a robust supplier network.
- Manage Material Pricing and Lead Times: Collaborate with suppliers to ensure material costs and lead times align with project goals and business objectives.
- Act as a Key Partner: Serve as a vital partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.
Your Story
- Experience: You have 15-20+ years of distinguished global experience in apparel and material development, with a strong focus on luxury fashion, high-end Ready-to-Wear (RTW), and lifestyle products.
- Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of materials and trims, combined with a specialist background in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey. Deep understanding of natural and synthetic fiber types, with expertise in sustainability, traceability, and circularity certifications.
- Strategic Vision: A proven eye for high-fashion aesthetics and a comprehensive awareness of industry trends. Ability to act as a strategic consultant to ensure material choices align with premium market positioning and design-led brand identity.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for partnering with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders. Capable of translating complex or avant-garde design concepts into dynamic visual material stories comprehensible to Product Marketing.
- Organizational & Operational Skills: Highly attentive to detail, with skills in budget oversight and process optimization. Demonstrated ability to implement systems that improve development lead times and reduce costs in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure & Network: Experience with global material sourcing is essential, including a well-established network of premium European and global mills, as well as experience managing factory relationships throughout the full production cycle.
- Education: A degree in Fashion, Textiles, or a related creative field from a reputable university, providing a strong foundational understanding of garment construction and textile innovation.
- Language Skills: Fluent in English, both written and spoken; additional languages are a plus.
Meet the Team
We are dedicated to creating innovative products for On. With the vital responsibility to meet the needs of our runners and new customers, we research, design, develop, and test a myriad of ideas both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that meet our rigorous testing standards ever reach the market.
What We Offer
On is a place centered around growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools necessary for holistic development—staying active, learning, exploring, and innovating. Our unique approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care focused on physical and mental well-being, ensuring that each person is guided by purpose.
Application Process
Apply online using the form below. Please note that 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, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.