Senior Lead of Material Innovation Development - Footwear

In short

We are seeking a bold and passionate innovator to drive the implementation and commercialization of key material innovations for the fastest growing footwear brand. Collaborating with innovation and inline teams, this teammate will explore, research, and validate material innovation concepts and manage their full rollout for mass production. This role is designed for a forward-thinker who thrives on exploring new methods of make, pushing the boundaries of performance, and revolutionizing sustainability in sports footwear.As the Senior Lead of Footwear Innovation Development, you will play a pivotal role in transforming cutting-edge material innovations into scalable, high-performance products that reach athletes and fans worldwide. Your expertise in textiles, synthetics, and leathers, combined with your deep understanding of T2 and T3 supply chains, will drive the evolution of footwear materials and ensure they meet the highest standards of performance, manufacturability, and sustainability.

As the Senior Lead, you will own the commercialization of innovation materials, ensuring all critical elements are thoroughly evaluated and implemented to bring these materials to life. You will spearhead the introduction of groundbreaking material concepts, balancing manufacturability with sustainability and brand strategy alignment to build the most innovative footwear solutions. Collaborating closely with innovation, design, inline product creation teams, and sourcing across time zones and countries, you will play a critical role in scaling and transitioning proven innovative concepts into mass production. Your end goal is delivering these innovations directly to athletes across the world. As an individual contributor, this role requires cross-organizational influence and partnership with sourcing and factory partners to guarantee the seamless transfer and rollout of material innovations from concept to mass production, positioning you at the forefront of pioneering new material ideas for our footwear brand.

Your Mission

• Lead Material Innovation: Own the commercialization of innovative materials, balancing performance, sustainability, and manufacturability to push the boundaries of footwear design.
• Drive Performance Enhancements: Explore and implement new methods of make that optimize product durability, weight, and responsiveness for high-performance footwear.
• Bridge Innovation and Mass Production: Collaborate with innovation, design, inline product creation teams, sourcing, and manufacturing partners to validate material concepts and transition them seamlessly into scalable production.
• Optimize Supply Chain Complexity: Leverage deep knowledge of T2 and T3 supply bases to drive supply chain efficiencies, ensuring materials align with business needs and sustainability goals.
• Champion Sustainability: Integrate sustainable material solutions into footwear innovation, reducing environmental impact while maintaining peak performance.
• Influence and Inspire: Lead through expertise and influence, engaging with cross-functional teams to ensure materials innovation is successfully implemented at scale.
• Manage Commercialization Pathways: Work closely with sourcing teams and supplier development teams to secure smooth, repeatable, and scalable commercialization of new materials.
• Ensure Strategic Alignment: Align material innovations with brand strategy, sustainability initiatives, and long-term growth objectives.Execute with Excellence: Exhibit outstanding project management skills, prioritizing multiple initiatives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.