Job Summary
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Performance in Apparel, you will be a key driver of material excellence for our diverse apparel within our lifestyle product ranges. Your expertise will directly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. You will inspire cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, championing ambitious, sustainable solutions that align with ON Running’s brand identity.
This role requires 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 collaborate closely with Apparel Design, Product Management, and Development Leads.
Your Mission
- Guide, Curate, and Develop a Premium Material Palette: Ensure that the selected materials enhance the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design and performance identity as the world’s most premium sports brand and the highest quality standards. 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, ensuring adherence to the timeline and clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability & Implement Innovation: Work 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 while liaising with global sourcing to build a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Financial Acumen: Manage upfront material pricing and lead times with suppliers, ensuring alignment with project goals and business objectives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.
Your Story
- Experience: You have 10+ years of global experience in apparel, material development, or a related industry, with a strong focus on performance apparel. You can identify materials that enhance athlete experience and promote ON's mission to "Feel nothing to feel everything."
- Technical Expertise: You possess extensive knowledge of materials and trims, including natural and synthetic fiber types, wovens, knits, performance finishes, insulation, and print techniques. You have developed directional material franchises with global suppliers.
- Strategic Vision: You have a keen eye for product aesthetics, an in-depth understanding of industry trends, and the ability to think strategically regarding ON Running's market positioning.
- Communication: You possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, enabling you to collaborate with internal and external partners globally and present complex information effectively. You can craft dynamic visual material stories that resonate with Design and Product Marketing.
- Organizational Skills: You are highly attentive to detail and possess strong project management skills, allowing you to balance creative direction with organization in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure: Experience with global material sourcing and development, including travel to key manufacturing hubs, trade fairs, and global sourcing offices, is essential.
Meet the Team
We are responsible for creating innovative products for ON. Our crucial role is to meet the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. We research, design, develop, and test numerous ideas both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that meet our rigorous testing standards are brought to market.
What We Offer
ON is centered around growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools they need for holistic development – to stay active, learn, explore, and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care initiatives for both physical and mental well-being, ensuring each person is driven by purpose.
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 recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are made free of discrimination.