Join Our Dynamic Sportswear Brand and Shape the Future of Performance Footwear
Are you looking to be part of a team that's redefining footwear materials in an industry ripe for innovation? We’re seeking a passionate Materials Leader to lead our Inline Materials Team.
As our Materials Lead PAD (Lifestyle) Footwear, you'll turn footwear dreams into reality, pushing the boundaries of materials to new heights. Your mission will involve setting and accomplishing short-to-medium-term goals while aligning your work with our long-term vision. At the forefront of executing our global materials strategy across various verticals like Performance All Day, Special Projects, and Collaborations, you will spearhead groundbreaking developments and lead a team of Specialists in creating the future of footwear materials. In this pivotal role, you'll collaborate closely with the Head of Materials, maintaining synergy with the Design, Development, and Product Management teams.
Your Mission
- Material Mastery: Source exceptional materials that inspire product creation, ensuring alignment with our timelines, sourcing policies, and sustainability goals, particularly focused on performance and innovation.
- Team Leadership and Collaboration: Guide and nurture the Footwear Material Specialists through collaboration, trust, and mentorship to foster growth and excellence while building our people pipeline for the future.
- Sustainability and Performance Goals: Align material-specific targets with our sustainability roadmap and identify opportunities to enhance material performance and efficiency across all product categories.
- Data Analytics and Process Optimization: Utilize data analytics to refine material selection and supply chain processes, continuously evaluating workflows to increase efficiency and improve material quality.
- Innovation and Research: Stay ahead by researching trends, attending trade shows, and scouting new technologies, seamlessly integrating these ideas into product innovations.
- Material Library Management: Develop and enhance our material library, ensuring strategic partnerships with key suppliers while focusing on both inline and special project toolboxes.
- Quality Assurance and Improvement: Ensure all materials pass stringent QA tests, using your expertise to advise on and implement improvements, while sharing feedback with suppliers to refine our testing protocol.
- Relationship Building: Cultivate strong relationships with material suppliers and external vendors, working collaboratively with various teams to navigate material and product goals.
Your Story
- Educational Foundations: A Bachelor’s Degree (minimum) in Footwear Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology, or a related field from a globally recognized university.
- Professional/Industry Experience: At least 7 years of global experience in Performance Footwear material development, including essential Asia supplier/factory involvement.
- Team Leadership: A proven track record of at least 3 years in leading and mentoring teams.
- Driving Innovation: Established ability to lead innovation through performance materials, with a comprehensive understanding of industry capabilities.
- Global Perspective: Extensive global travel experience for sourcing and development with T1s and material suppliers.
- Project Management Excellence: A robust background in managing projects from inception to production.
- Design and Technology Affinity: Deep appreciation and understanding of footwear design and technology in the technical performance category.
- Detail Orientation and Presentation Skills: Exceptional attention to detail with talent for building, organizing, and presenting effective strategies.
- Communication and Collaboration: Superior communication skills in both verbal and written English to enhance collaborative efforts.
- Creativity and Discipline Balance: Ability to blend creativity with organization, thriving in a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptability and Entrepreneurial Spirit: Skill in navigating change effectively with an entrepreneurial mindset for unexpected challenges.
Two women in activewear run outdoors, smiling, surrounded by greenery and other runners.
About the Team
We are a small team with big responsibilities. In our Footwear Materials team, we implement and execute the sustainability strategy for the entire company through our materials, helping to shape the future of the organization. Conducting research and creating strategies, we implement projects and innovate processes through the lens of sustainable materials and footwear.
One of our main objectives is to drive strategic material sustainability priorities into reality, collaborating effectively with other departments while focusing on communication and education on these topics. As the Senior Lead, you will play a crucial role in leading and influencing our team, fostering collaboration across our global footwear creation efforts.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.