Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Development (Lifestyle) / Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Development (Lifestyle)

Position Overview

As the Senior Lead of Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collaborations, and Special Projects in Apparel, you will be a key driver of material excellence within our diverse apparel lines. 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 demands a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and has a passion for material aesthetics, premium quality, and authentic sustainability. You will report to the Head of Apparel Material and collaborate closely with teams in Apparel Design, Product Management, and Development.

Your Mission

• Guide, Curate and Develop a Premium Material Palette: Ensure that material selections enhance garment fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design identity as the world's most premium sports brand and adhering to premium 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 the product commercialization handoff, adhering to 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 viable 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 Pricing and Lead Time: Engage with suppliers to ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives.
• Act as a Key Partner to All Product Creation Stakeholders: Establish strong collaborations with Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.

Your Story

• Experience: You have over 10 years of global experience in apparel or material development, with a strong focus on lifestyle and fashion products.
• Technical Expertise: You possess comprehensive 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, an acute awareness of industry trends, and the ability to think and act strategically concerning ON Running's market positioning.
• Communication: You possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, enabling collaboration with internal and external partners globally and presenting complex information effectively. You are adept at presenting dynamic visual material stories 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, 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. Our team researches, designs, develops, and tests a multitude of ideas, both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that pass our rigorous testing standards reach the market.

What We Offer

On is a place centered around growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip our people with the tools needed for holistic development—encouraging them to stay active, explore, learn, and innovate. Our distinctive approach blends a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care opportunities for both physical and mental well-being, ensuring each individual is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a fair and inclusive work environment, where recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are made without discrimination. Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.