In Short
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collaborations, and Special Projects in Apparel, you will be a key driver of material excellence for our diverse apparel 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.
Your Mission
- Guide, Curate, and Develop a Premium Material Palette: Ensure material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design identity as the world's premier sports brand. 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, while adhering to project timelines 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, while liaising with global sourcing to build a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Manage Upfront Material Price and Lead Time: Ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives in discussions with suppliers.
- Act as a Key Partner: Work closely with 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 lifestyle and fashion products.
- Technical Expertise: You possess extensive knowledge of materials and trims, including natural and synthetic fiber types, wovens, knits, insulation, and print techniques. You have developed directional material franchises with global suppliers.
- Strategic Vision: You have a keen eye for product aesthetics, a deep awareness of industry trends, and the ability to think and act strategically regarding ON Running's market positioning.
- Communication: You have excellent verbal and written communication skills that enable you to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners globally. You can present complex information clearly and create dynamic visual material stories that resonate with Design and Product Marketing teams.
- Organizational Skills: You are highly attentive to detail 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, including traveling 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 team plays a vital role in meeting the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. We research, design, develop, and test a myriad of ideas scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that pass our rigorous testing standards ever make it to market.
What We Offer
At On, we foster an environment centered around growth and progress. We provide the tools necessary for holistic development—encouraging you to stay active, learn, explore, and innovate. Our unique 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 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 work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.