Job Description

In Short

As the Lead for Apparel Materials Development & Commercialization, you will manage an assigned portfolio of Tier 2 material suppliers, ensuring a seamless transition from development to bulk production. You will work closely with our global Material Development, Sourcing, Quality, and Tier 1 manufacturing partners to drive supplier performance, material readiness, quality consistency, and on-time delivery.

Based in Hanoi, Vietnam, you will be part of our globally integrated supply chain team, with frequent travel across Asia to work directly with our manufacturing partners, proactively resolve challenges, and drive continuous improvement.

Your mission

Tier 2 Supplier Ownership & Execution: Own an assigned portfolio of Mainline Apparel Tier 2 suppliers as the primary sourcing and execution interface, building strong supplier relationships and proactively resolving operational risks before they impact Tier 1 production.
Material Commercialization & Bulk Readiness: Partner with Zurich Material Development, Tier 2 suppliers, and Tier 1 factories to transition approved materials from development through commercialization and bulk readiness, ensuring alignment on technical requirements, testing, lead times, capacity, and supply commitments.
Supplier Performance Management: Drive Tier 2 performance against key KPIs, including quality, on-time delivery, lead time, responsiveness, and execution reliability; identify performance gaps and drive corrective actions and supplier improvement plans.
Capacity, Lead Time & Supply Management: Align supplier capacity, greige availability and lead times with seasonal requirements, proactively identifying constraints and driving solutions to improve material availability and shorten production cycles.
Supplier Evaluation & Onboarding: Support the assessment and onboarding of new Tier 2 suppliers, evaluating technical capability, manufacturing infrastructure, capacity, and operational readiness before scaling into bulk production.
Commercial & Cost Management: Lead supplier commercial discussions, including seasonal pricing and MOQ/MCQ negotiations, and identify consolidation opportunities in partnership with the A&A Materials Costing team to improve competitiveness and scale.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the key materials contact for the assigned mainline portfolio, partnering across Material Development, Sourcing, Product Creation, Quality, Planning and Tier 1 factories while maintaining accurate material and supplier information and supporting the broader Tier 2 strategy.

Your story

At least 7 years of experience in textile material development, sourcing, or commercialization, preferably combining experience in textile manufacturing and international sportswear or apparel brands.
Strong technical understanding of textile manufacturing processes, including knitting, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and fabric performance requirements.
Proven experience managing Tier 2 material suppliers, from development handover through commercialization and bulk production.
Solid knowledge of material testing, quality standards, approval processes, and bulk production readiness.
Demonstrated ability to manage supplier performance, identify operational risks, and drive corrective actions to ensure quality and on-time delivery.
Experience in capacity planning, production lead-time management, and material supply coordination with Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners.
Familiarity with PLM systems and proficiency in Excel for tracking material development, production status, and supplier performance.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multicultural teams.
Proficiency in English is required.
An entrepreneurial, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Ability to balance competing priorities, technical requirements, and execution discipline in a fast-paced environment.

Your team

You will be part of On's Apparel & Accessories Materials Sourcing team, based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Working closely with our global Material Development teams in Zurich, as well as Product Creation, Quality, Planning, Tier 1 manufacturing partners, and Tier 2 material suppliers, you will play a key role in translating material developments into successful bulk production.

Your work will directly contribute to supplier performance, material quality, supply reliability, and the continued growth of On's Apparel & Accessories business.

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, to explore, and to 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. We are requesting that you provide sensitive demographic information such as gender identity and race/ethnicity to help us ensure that we are creating equitable and fair experiences for all potential future team members. You are not required to provide this demographic information, and this information will in no way impact your eligibility for hire.