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 will turn footwear dreams into reality by pushing the boundaries of materials. Your role will involve setting and accomplishing short-to-medium-term goals while aligning your efforts with our long-term vision. You'll be at the forefront of executing our global materials strategy across various verticals, including Performance All Day, Special Projects, and Collaborations. In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead groundbreaking developments and lead a team of Specialists dedicated to building the future of footwear materials. Collaborating closely with the Head of Materials, you will maintain 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. Focus on performance and elevating our products to new realms of technology 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 while identifying opportunities to enhance material performance, sustainability, and efficiency across all product categories.
- Data Analytics and Process Optimization: Leverage data analytics to enhance material selection and supply chain processes, continuously evaluating and optimizing workflows to increase efficiency and improve material quality and sustainability.
- Innovation and Research: Stay ahead by researching business trends, attending trade shows, and scouting new technologies to seamlessly integrate fresh ideas into product innovations.
- Material Library Management: Develop and enhance our material library and tools, ensuring strategic partnerships with key suppliers and focusing on agility in handling short lead times, while keeping a sharp view toward the digital future of material libraries.
- Quality Assurance and Improvement: Ensure all materials meet our stringent QA tests, leveraging your expertise in materials to advise on improvements and collaborating closely with our Quality team and T2 suppliers.
- Relationship Building: Cultivate strong, communicative relationships with material suppliers and vendors, working collaboratively with numerous teams to navigate material goals alongside overall product objectives.
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: Demonstrated ability to lead innovation through performance materials, with strategic thinking and execution capabilities.
- Global Perspective: Extensive global travel experience to T1s, material suppliers, and external partners for sourcing and development.
- Project Management Excellence: Robust background in managing projects from creative inception to production.
- Design and Technology Affinity: Deep appreciation and understanding of footwear design and technology, particularly within the technical performance category.
- Detail Orientation and Presentation Skills: Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to present 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 and discipline in a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptability and Entrepreneurial Spirit: Capability to navigate change effectively with an entrepreneurial mindset.
About the Team
We are a small team with significant responsibilities. In our Footwear Materials team, we implement and execute the sustainability strategy for the entire company through our footwear materials, helping to shape the organization's future. We conduct research, create strategies, implement projects, and innovate products and processes from the perspective of sustainable materials and footwear. One of our key objectives is to drive strategic material sustainability priorities into reality in collaboration with other departments. The Senior Lead will play an essential role in leading and influencing the team while fostering effective collaboration across our global footwear creation team.
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.