Head of Material Sourcing- Apparel & Accessories; Global Sourcing

Head of Material Sourcing
- Apparel & Accessories (Global Sourcing)

The Head of Materials Sourcing is an experienced textile visionary who will lead our Apparel & Accessories Material Supplier base Globally in alignment with the Material team in Zurich. This pivotal role demands a strategic leader who will directly influence the direction of the material Sourcing strategy with in-depth knowledge of Global economic dynamics to build agility and flexibility for On.

As the Head of Material Sourcing, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, you will be the driving force behind our material sourcing strategy, responsible for identifying & onboarding the best-in-class material suppliers globally to support On’s growth targets, which are rooted in technology, sustainability & innovation. With your technical expertise, you will lead continuous improvement projects with strategic suppliers & help them get future-ready for On’s innovation goals.

You will lead a team of highly technical material specialists, fostering an environment of continuous learning, professional development, and collaborative problem-solving. Your leadership will inspire and empower your team to push boundaries and explore new frontiers in textile technology.

A critical aspect of this role is the ability to work seamlessly and strategically across various functions within the Sourcing team—Development & Commercialization and Production Planning & Quality—as well as the extended Apparel & Accessories team in Zurich on supplier growth strategies, regionalization, lead times, cost optimization & quality.

Oversee, manage, and build the Material Commercialization and Sourcing team structure to suit the current state and future for scalability

Manage commercialization process for all material types across apparel and accessories in both synthetic and natural fibers

Manage Counter development & Regional Material Sourcing to realize optimal benefit & agility for getting the product to market

Understand and ensure quality and durability across all product categories as it relates to material functionality in conjunction with agreed standards

Manage season calendars & buy ready schedules for on-time product deliveries

Build a best-in-class Material supplier base for On with the right infrastructure, technical expertise & flexibility for speed to market

Ensure that material KPIs in terms of Delivery, Quality & sustainability commitments are met and communicated regularly with suppliers for improvement

Support the material innovation pipeline and work with suppliers to enhance more opportunities to co-create innovative materials

Guide & influence price negotiations with suppliers on a seasonal basis

Constantly challenge the status quo with a mindset to do better in processes & systems for gaining efficiencies

Ensure we are building and training a best-in-class team and cultivate a culture of curiosity, learning, and development

• Bachelor’s Degree in Textile R&D, Engineering and/or technology
• 15+ years experience in any material/textile-related field in (apparel) consumer products
• 10+ years of leading and developing teams
• Ability and willingness to travel globally for sourcing as well as supplier meetings and reviews
• Good understanding of global economic indicators to drive Regional sourcing strategies
• Extensive experience in Global Material Sourcing & managing multicultural supplier base
• Expertise on material costing and cost engineering
• Technical expertise in textiles as well as creative vision and a can do attitude
• Collaborative spirit with diverse stakeholders as well as strong communication skills and emotional intelligence
• Analytical mindset for building Material Sourcing Strategies
• Ability to pivot and handle change management at a very fast-paced, high-growth business
• Commitment to Quality
• Experience of running Material Innovation projects shall be an added advantage
• Diplomatic and open mindset with diverse stakeholders as well as superior communication and presentation skills (highly cultivated verbal and written English)

The Materials team at On are both creative and technical—we translate design visions into performance materials through…