Senior Lead - Footwear Materials

In short

We are seeking a Senior Lead - Footwear Materials to lead one of our footwear categories. This role is responsible for executing material strategies, leading the team, and driving cross-functional collaboration to support performance, sustainability, and innovation across multiple footwear verticals, including Performance All Day, Special Projects, and Collaborations.

Reporting to the Head of Materials, you will lead material development initiatives, oversee a team of specialists, and collaborate with Design, Development, Product Management, and Sustainability teams to ensure materials meet performance, quality, cost, and sustainability requirements.

Your mission

- Material Strategy & Development: Lead the sourcing and development of footwear materials aligned with performance requirements, development timelines, sourcing policies, and sustainability goals.
- Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop Footwear Material Specialists, fostering skill growth, collaboration, and long-term team development.
- Sustainability & Performance Alignment: Translate sustainability roadmap targets into actionable material development priorities across product categories.
- Data & Process Optimization: Leverage data to guide material selection and supply chain decisions. Continuously improve workflows to increase efficiency, manage cost, and enhance material quality and sustainability performance.
- Innovation & Research: Monitor industry trends, supplier innovations, and new technologies, integrating relevant developments into material strategies and product applications.
- Material Library & Tools: Develop and maintain material libraries and tools for inline and special projects, with a focus on supplier partnerships, short lead times, and digital evolution of material management.
- Quality Management: Ensure materials meet quality standards and testing requirements. Collaborate with suppliers and internal quality teams to refine testing protocols and implement material improvements.
- Stakeholder & Supplier Collaboration: Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers, vendors, and internal teams, ensuring alignment across Design, Product Development, Innovation, and Sustainability functions.

Your story

- Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Footwear Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in performance footwear material development, including direct collaboration with Asia-based suppliers and factories.
- At least 3 years of experience leading and developing teams of specialists.
- Strong understanding of performance materials, industry processes, best practices, and innovation pipelines, with experience leading initiatives from concept to production.
- Global experience working with suppliers, T1 factories, and external partners, with willingness to travel internationally as required.
- Proven ability to manage complex projects across multiple stakeholders and timelines.
- Solid understanding of footwear design, construction, and performance technology, with knowledge of material trends and applications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to present strategies and align diverse stakeholders.
- Structured, detail-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate significant change, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and solution-oriented approach to complex challenges.

Meet the team

The Footwear Materials team develops and delivers the company’s sustainability strategy for footwear materials. The team conducts research, defines material strategies, and supports projects that advance more sustainable materials, products, and processes. The team works closely with cross-functional partners to embed material sustainability priorities into footwear creation, with a strong focus on effective communication and knowledge sharing.

As Senior Lead, you will manage and develop the Footwear Materials team while ensuring effective collaboration across the global footwear creation organization. You will guide material strategy execution, foster innovation, and support alignment across Design, Product Development, Product Management, Innovation, and Sustainability teams.

What we offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.