Job Overview
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Performance in Apparel, you will play a pivotal role in driving material excellence for our diverse apparel lines within our lifestyle product ranges. Your expertise will directly influence 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.
Your Mission
- Guide, Curate, and Develop a Premium Material Palette: Ensure that material selection enhances garment fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design and performance identity as the world's premium sports brand. Continuously contribute to a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Material Development From Concept to Commercialization: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, adhering to timelines and ensuring clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability and Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials, as well as 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 supplier network.
- Financial Acumen: Manage upfront material pricing and lead times with suppliers, ensuring 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 have over 10 years of global experience in apparel and material development, particularly focused on performance apparel products, enhancing the athlete experience in line with ON’s mission to “Feel nothing to feel everything.”
- Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of materials and trims, including natural and synthetic fiber types, wovens, knits, performance finishes, insulation, and printing techniques. Proven success in developing directional material franchises with global suppliers.
- Strategic Vision: A keen eye for product aesthetics and a deep understanding of industry trends enable you to think and act strategically regarding ON Running's market positioning.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills facilitate collaboration with internal and external partners globally, allowing you to present complex information effectively. You can create dynamic visual material narratives that resonate with Design and Product Marketing.
- Organizational Skills: Highly detail-oriented with strong project management skills, you expertly 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 sourcing offices, is essential.
Meet the Team
We are dedicated to creating innovative products for On, meeting the evolving needs of our runners and new customers. Our team utilizes scientific and aesthetic approaches to research, design, develop, and test numerous ideas. Only products meeting our rigorous testing standards are launched into the market.
What We Offer
On is a place centered on growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with tools for holistic development—encouraging an active lifestyle, learning, exploration, and innovation. Our distinctive approach fosters a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere alongside access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, ensuring that each person is driven by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a work environment that is fair and inclusive, ensuring that all recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are free from discrimination.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.