Job Opportunity: 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 lines. Your expertise will significantly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. By inspiring cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, you will champion ambitious, sustainable solutions that align with ON Running's brand identity.
This role calls 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 the development material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design identity as the world's most premium sports brand and quality standards. Continuously feed a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Concept Stage through Commercialization Handoff: Oversee material development from initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, adhering to timelines and facilitating clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability & Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials and our innovation and sustainability teams to integrate preferred materials and commercially ready innovations into inline products. Identify and onboard new material partners while liaising with global sourcing to establish a robust supplier network.
- Manage Material Pricing and Lead Times: Coordinate with suppliers on upfront material pricing and lead times to ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives.
- Act as a Key Partner: Support 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 focus on luxury fashion, high-end Ready-to-Wear, and lifestyle products.
- Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of materials and trims, with a background in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey. Expert 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 align material choices with premium market positioning.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders, translating complex design concepts into dynamic visual material stories.
- Organizational & Operational Skills: Highly detail-oriented with skills in budget oversight and process optimization, capable of implementing systems to enhance development lead times and reduce costs.
- Global Exposure & Network: Experience in global material sourcing with an established network of premium European and global mills, adept in managing factory relationships throughout the 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: Strong written and spoken English skills; additional languages are a plus.
Meet the Team
We are responsible for creating innovative products at On. With a vital commitment to meeting the needs of our runners and new customers, we research, design, develop, and test numerous ideas with both scientific rigor and aesthetic consideration. Only products that meet our stringent testing standards make it to market.
What We Offer
At On, we cultivate an environment centered on growth and progress. Our workspace is designed to provide individuals with tools for holistic development—encouraging activity, learning, exploration, and innovation. We combine a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, allowing everyone to be led by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a work environment that is fair and inclusive; all recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are made without discrimination.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.