Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Developer (Performance) / Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Developeress (Performance)

In Short

As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Performance in Apparel, you will be a key driver of material excellence for our diverse apparel in 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 aligned 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 the development material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design and performance identity as the world’s most premium sports brand and premium 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, following the calendar and ensuring 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 ready innovations into inline products. Identify and onboard new material partners and liaise with global sourcing to help build a robust and relevant supplier network.
• Financial Acumen: Manage upfront material pricing and lead time 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 products. You can identify materials that will enhance athlete experience and promote 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, insulations, and print techniques. You have developed directional material franchises with global suppliers.
• Strategic Vision: With a strong eye for product aesthetics and a deep awareness of industry trends, you can think and act strategically as it relates to ON Running's market positioning.
• Communication: You have excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with internal and external partners globally and present complex information effectively. You can present dynamic visual material stories that resonate with Design and Product Marketing.
• Organizational Skills: Highly attentive to detail, you are skilled in project management, balancing 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 a must.

Meet the Team

We’re responsible for creating innovative products for On. We have a vital responsibility 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 pass our rigorous testing standards ever go to market.

What We Offer

On is a place that centers around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to provide resources for holistic development—encouraging 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, ensuring that each person is driven 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 work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.