Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Developer

As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Performance in Apparel you will be a key driver of material excellence for our diverse apparel, In our lifestyle product ranges. Your expertise will directly influence apparel design, aesthetic 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 requires a proactive and entrepreneurial developer who thrives on challenges and is passionate about 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 Leads.

• Guide, Curate and develop a premium material palette:
  Ensure development material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design and performance identity as the world’s most premium sports brand and premium quality standards. Continuously feed a pipeline of material concepts for design.
• Manage concept stage through commercialization handoff material development:
  Manage material development from initial design brief to product commercialization handoff, following calendar and ensuring clear communication with suppliers.
• Drive Sustainability & implement innovation:
  Work with Head of Apparel Materials, and our innovation and sustainability teams to integrate new preferred materials and commercially ready innovations to inline product. Identify and onboard new material partners and liaise with global sourcing to help build a robust and relevant supplier network.
• Financial Acumen:
  Manage upfront material price, and lead time with suppliers, ensuring alignment with project goals and business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Act as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.

• Experience:
  
  You have 10+ years of global experience in apparel, material development, or a related industry, with a strong focus on performance apparel product. You can identify materials which will enhance athlete experience and promote On’s mission “Feel nothing to feel everything”.
• Technical Expertise:
  You possess extensive knowledge of materials and trim, natural and synthetic fiber types, wovens, knits, performance finishes, insulation and print techniques. You have developed directional material franchises with global suppliers.
• Strategic Vision:
  You have a strong eye for product aesthetics, a deep awareness of industry trends, and the ability to think and act strategically as it relates to ON Running market positioning.
• Communication:
  You have excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with internal and external partners globally and present complex information effectively. You can present dynamic visual material stories that are understood by Design and Product Marketing.
• Organizational
  
  Skills:
  
  You are highly attentive to detail and skilled in project management, able to balance creative direction with organization in a fast-paced and 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.

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. So we research, design, develop and test lots of ideas scientifically and aesthetically. Only products that pass our rigorous testing standards ever go to market.

Just by the banks of the Limmat you’ll find our largest global hub in Zürich West – On Labs – where you can hike up 12 floors through our custom-built spiral trail.

We always look for better decisions, we always listen to people and listen to different colleagues. We listen, we digest, and we find the most suitable one for all the team and everybody benefits. That process makes us really innovative.

On is a place that is centered around growth and…