In short
- As a Senior Specialist, Material Sourcing, you will drive end-to-end material sourcing in line with On's global sourcing strategy. You will work closely with suppliers, factories and cross-functional teams to ensure materials meet performance, quality, timeline, cost, and sustainability requirements. You will play a key role in material development, supplier management, and sourcing execution for high-performance footwear products.
Your mission
- Lead end-to-end material sourcing activities in alignment with On's sourcing strategy.
- Identify, develop, and manage material suppliers to support business and product needs.
- Evaluate supplier capabilities in terms of lead time, manufacturing process, quality standards, and target pricing.
- Ensure material availability according to development timelines, sourcing policies, and commercialization milestones.
- Support the creation and sourcing of technical, high-performance materials in line with design briefs.
- Own material-related execution from concept through production, ensuring smooth integration between T2 suppliers and T1 factories.
- Contribute to material-specific targets linked to On's sustainability roadmap.
- Identify opportunities to improve material performance, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
- Manage and maintain core and seasonal material toolboxes, material libraries, and relevant PLM updates.
- Define and manage technical specifications, quality standards, and sourcing execution for textiles and components.
- Partner with testing and QA teams to ensure materials meet required physical testing criteria and approval standards.
- Troubleshoot material issues using technical knowledge of yarns, constructions, polymers, and material performance.
- Build strong working relationships with material suppliers, chemical vendors, factories, and internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Development, Product Marketing, Innovation, Sustainability, Planning, and factory teams.
- Experienced in leather: sourcing, grading, quality guideline, leather process
Your story
- Bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering, Footwear Technology, Material Science, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in the global footwear industry or a related field.
- Strong experience working with material suppliers and manufacturing partners in Asia.
- Good understanding of footwear design, development, and technical performance materials.
- Strong knowledge of textiles, yarns, constructions, polymers, and material testing requirements.
- Experience managing material development and sourcing from concept to commercialization.
- Strong project management and cross-functional communication skills.
- Able to work independently in a fast-paced, international environment.
- Fluent in English; Mandarin is a plus.
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.
