In Short
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Performance in Apparel, you will be a pivotal force in driving material excellence across our diverse apparel lines. Your expertise will significantly impact apparel design, aesthetic appeal, and product quality. By inspiring cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, you'll champion ambitious and 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 will work 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. 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. Ensure adherence to schedules and maintain 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 our products. Identify and onboard new material partners, while liaising with global sourcing to develop a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Financial Acumen: Manage upfront material costs and lead times with suppliers to ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.
Your Story
- Experience: You bring over 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 experiences and advance On’s mission: “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 established directional material franchises with global suppliers.
- Strategic Vision: You have a keen eye for aesthetics, a deep awareness of industry trends, and the ability to think and act strategically regarding ON Running market positioning.
- Communication: You possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, allowing you to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners globally. You can communicate complex information compellingly and present dynamic visual material narratives that resonate with Design and Product Marketing.
- Organizational Skills: You are detail-oriented and skilled in project management, capable of balancing creative direction with organization in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure: Experience with global material sourcing and development is essential, including travel to key manufacturing hubs, trade fairs, and global sourcing offices.
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, conducting thorough research, design, development, and testing of a multitude of ideas both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that meet our rigorous testing standards ever make it to market.
What We Offer
On is dedicated to fostering growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools necessary for holistic development—promoting activity, learning, exploration, and innovation. Our distinctive 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.
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 fair and inclusive work environment, where all recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are free from discrimination.