Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Development (Lifestyle)

As the Senior Lead Materials Development for Lifestyle, Collabs, and Special Projects 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

• Guide, Curate and develop a premium material palette: Ensure development material selection enhances the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design 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.
• Manage upfront material price, and lead time with suppliers, ensuring alignment with project goals and business objectives.
• Act as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.

• Experience: You have 15-20+ years of distinguished global experience in apparel and material development, with a strong focus on luxury fashion, high-end RTW (Ready-to-Wear), and lifestyle products.

• Technical Expertise: You possess extensive knowledge of materials and trim, with a specialist background in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey. You have a deep understanding of natural and synthetic fiber types and are an expert in sustainability, traceability, and circularity certifications.

• Strategic Vision: You have a proven eye for high-fashion aesthetics and a deep awareness of industry trends. You can act as a strategic consultant to ensure material choices align with premium market positioning and design-led brand identity.

• Communication: You have excellent verbal and written communication skills to partner with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders. You can translate complex or avant-garde design concepts into dynamic visual material stories that are understood by Product Marketing.

• Organisational & Operational Skills: You are highly attentive to detail and skilled in budget oversight and process optimisation. You have a demonstrated ability to implement systems that improve development lead times and reduce costs in a fast-paced environment.

• Global Exposure & Network: Experience with global material sourcing is a must, specifically possessing an established network of premium European and global mills and experience in managing factory relationships throughout the full production cycle.

• Education: You hold a degree in Fashion, Textiles, or a related creative field from a reputable university, providing you with a strong foundational understanding of garment construction and textile innovation.

• Fluent in English both written and speaking; additional languages are a plus.