In Short
As a Senior Specialist – Footwear Materials, you will be instrumental in advancing performance materials aligned with the company vision. This role emphasizes material creation, development, and technical execution for high-performance footwear products. Reporting to the Footwear Materials Team Lead, you will facilitate the execution of the global material strategy, manage projects from concept to production, and collaborate closely with Design, Development, Product Marketing, and Sustainability teams. Acting as the technical lead for material integrity and industrialization, you will transform material concepts into scalable, high-performance solutions. You will oversee technical specifications, quality standards, and sourcing execution for textiles and components, ensuring all materials meet performance and sustainability benchmarks. Additionally, you will serve as the liaison between global T2 suppliers and T1 product factories, ensuring seamless integration from development through mass production.
Your Mission
- Support the creation and sourcing of technical, high-performance materials in accordance with design briefs, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Ensure material availability according to established timelines, sourcing policies, quality standards, and target prices.
- Contribute to material-specific targets that align with the sustainability roadmap.
- Identify opportunities for innovation in material performance, sustainability, and efficiency for footwear products.
- Lead material and component specifications for product creation, including color applications using Adobe Illustrator and PLM systems.
- Oversee the material lifecycle, ensuring all materials are tested, approved, and continuously improved through expertise in yarns, material structures, and polymers.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with T2 suppliers and T1 factory teams to support material development, quality, and process improvements.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of the material library and tools for the product creation teams.
- Collaborate with internal teams (EUR / NAM / ASIA) — Design, Product Development, Product Management, Innovation, Sustainability, and Testing — to ensure alignment and successful execution of material initiatives.
Your Story
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Footwear Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
- 5+ years of global experience in performance footwear material development, including collaboration with Asia-based suppliers and factories.
- Extensive experience traveling globally to T2 suppliers and T1 factories to develop and source materials.
- Proven experience managing material development projects from concept through production.
- Strong understanding of footwear design and performance technology in the technical performance category, with an eye for aesthetics and awareness of industry and material trends.
- Demonstrated ability to implement innovation through performance materials and contribute strategically to projects.
- High attention to detail, with the ability to organize and create clear presentations and documentation.
- Strong understanding of industry processes, able to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written English) and a collaborative mindset when working with diverse stakeholders.
- Able to balance creativity with organization and discipline in a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptable and solution-oriented, with the ability to navigate change and bring an entrepreneurial mindset to unexpected challenges.
About the Team
The Footwear Materials team is dedicated to developing and delivering the company’s sustainability strategy for footwear materials. This team conducts research, defines material strategies, and supports projects that advance more sustainable materials, products, and processes. Working closely with cross-functional partners, the team ensures that material sustainability priorities are embedded into footwear creation, emphasizing effective communication and knowledge sharing. As a Senior Specialist, you will provide technical expertise, support the execution of the material strategy, and ensure that high-performance materials are successfully integrated across footwear products.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.