Senior Lead - Footwear Materials (maternity cover - 6 months)

In short

Are you looking to be part of a team that's redefining footwear materials in an industry ripe for innovation? We’re seeking a passionate Materials Leader to cover a 6 month maternity leave on our Footwear Materials Team.

As our Materials Lead Performance Footwear, you're turning footwear dreams into reality. You'll be pushing the boundaries of performance materials to new heights. Setting and accomplishing short-to-medium-term goals while aligning your work to our long-term vision. You'll be at the forefront, executing our global materials strategy across various verticals like Performance All Day, Tennis, Training, Outdoor and Running. In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead groundbreaking developments and lead a team of Specialists in building the future of footwear materials. You’ll collaborate closely with the Head of Materials and maintain synergy with the Design, Development, and Product Management teams.

Your Mission

• Material Mastery: Source phenomenal materials that inspire product creation. Ensuring materials are created in alignment with our timelines, sourcing policies, and our sustainability goals. Specifically focused on performance and elevating our products to a new realm of technology and innovation.
• Team Leadership and Collaboration: Guide and nurture the Footwear Material Specialists through collaboration, trust, and mentorship to foster growth and excellence while building our people pipeline for the future.
• Sustainability and Performance Goals: Align material-specific targets with our sustainability roadmap. Identify and seize opportunities to enhance material performance, sustainability, and efficiency in all product categories.
• Data Analytics and Process Optimization: Leverage data analytics to enhance material selection and supply chain processes. Continuously evaluate and optimize our workflows to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve material quality and sustainability.
• Innovation and Research: Stay ahead by researching business trends, attending trade shows, and scouting new technologies. Seamlessly integrating these new ideas into product innovations.
• Material Library Management: Develop and enhance our material library and tools, ensuring strategic partnerships with key suppliers. Focus on both inline and special project toolboxes with agility in handling short lead times. Focus not just on short term management but with a sharp view on the digital future of material libraries and management.
• Quality Assurance and Improvement: Ensure all materials pass our stringent QA tests. Use your deep understanding of yarns, material structures, and polymers to advise on and implement material improvements. Consistently share feedback between T2 suppliers and our Quality team to continue to refine and improve our testing protocol.
• Relationship Building: Cultivate strong, communicative relationships with material suppliers and external vendors. Work collaboratively with various teams, including Design, Product Development, Innovation, and Sustainability, navigating material goals with overall product goals.