In Short
As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collabs, and Special Projects in Apparel, you will play a pivotal role in driving material excellence across our diverse apparel lines. Your expertise will directly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. By championing ambitious and sustainable solutions aligned with ON Running's brand identity, you will inspire cross-functional teams with a strategic vision.
This role requires a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and possesses a passion for 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 that the material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, in line with our identity as the world's most premium sports brand and quality standards. Continuously provide a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Concept Stage Through Commercialization Handoff: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, adhering to schedules 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, working with global sourcing to establish a robust and relevant supplier network.
- Manage Material Pricing and Lead Times: Oversee upfront material pricing and lead times with suppliers, ensuring alignment with project goals and business objectives.
- Act as a Key Partner to Product Creation Stakeholders: Collaborate with Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales teams effectively.
Your Story
- Experience: You bring over 10 years of global experience in apparel, material development, or a related industry, with a 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 and a deep awareness of industry trends, enabling you to think and act strategically in relation to ON Running's market positioning.
- Communication: You demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, allowing you to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners globally and present complex information in a clear manner. You can also convey dynamic visual material stories that resonate with Design and Product Marketing.
- Organizational Skills: You are detail-oriented and skilled in project management, able to balance creative direction with organization in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure: You have experience with global material sourcing and development, including travel to key manufacturing hubs, trade fairs, and global sourcing offices.
Meet the Team
We are responsible for creating innovative products for On, and we take pride in meeting the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. Our process involves thorough research, design, development, and testing of a multitude of ideas both scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that pass our rigorous testing standards reach the market.
What We Offer
At On, we cultivate an environment focused on growth and progress, providing our team members with the tools they need for holistic development. Employees are encouraged to stay active, learn, explore, and innovate. Our distinctive approach fosters a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere while facilitating personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, guiding each person 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 dedicated to creating a fair and inclusive work environment, where all recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are made without discrimination.