Senior Lead - Apparel Materials Development (Performance)

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IN SHORT As Lead – Apparel Materials Development Performance, you will take responsibility for executing the global performance materials strategy and advancing textile technology in line with the company vision. The role includes overseeing fabric creation, advanced material development, and technical execution, as well as collaborating across functions to support performance, sustainability, and high-performance product objectives. Reporting to the Apparel Materials Team Sr Lead, you will manage material development projects across multiple seasons, support the execution of the global materials strategy, and work closely with Design, Development, Product Management, and Sustainability teams. You will also mentor junior specialists depending on project scope, and guide cross-functional partners to deliver innovative material solutions from concept through to garment production. YOUR MISSION * Strategic Sourcing & Creation: Define, develop, and lead the creation and strategic sourcing of technical, high-performance apparel materials (including knits, wovens, and applicable trims or embellishment) in accordance with design briefs, product roadmaps, timelines, sourcing policies, and sustainability requirements. * Standards & Quality Control: Establish and manage fabric availability standards, sourcing policies, and quality assurance processes, supporting target prices and adherence to program timelines across the global supply chain. * Multi-Season Management: Lead material development workstreams within assigned projects, coordinating across multiple apparel product seasons to ensure alignment with program objectives. * Sustainability Leadership: Drive and report on material-specific targets in line with the company sustainability roadmap, ensuring compliance, circularity, and supporting continuous improvement in raw materials. * Technical Specifications: Create and maintain material and trim specifications, print applications, and related documentation using PLM system, supporting the adoption of best practices within the team. * Lifecycle & Testing: Manage the material lifecycle, ensuring all textiles and substrates are robustly tested for high-intensity sports applications, approved, and continuously improved, leveraging expertise in yarns, fabric structures, dyeing, finishing, & printing.. * Supplier Partnerships: Build and maintain strategic relationships with T2 material suppliers (textile mills, print vendors) and T1 factory teams (garment manufacturers) to support material development, quality, and process improvements. * Library Innovation: Contribute to the development and maintenance of the digital and physical apparel material library and tools used across the product creation team, supporting both inline commercial lines and special innovation projects. * Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams — Design, Product Development, Product Management, Innovation, Sustainability, and Testing — across global regions (Eu & Asia Sourcing office) to ensure seamless alignment and successful execution of apparel material initiatives. YOUR PROFILE * Education: Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Textile Engineering, Textile Technology, Apparel Science, or a related field; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred. * Experience: 8+ years of experience in performance apparel material/fabric development, with a proven track record in technical textiles, innovative synthetics, or sports apparel execution, including extensive collaboration with Asia-based suppliers and factories. * Global Mobility: Extensive global travel experience to T2 material mills/suppliers and T1 garment factories to troubleshoot, create, develop, and source materials at the source. * Project Leadership: Proven experience managing cross-functional material development projects from initial concept to commercial production across a matrixed organization. * Sport Tech Expertise: Deep affinity for apparel design and technology in the technical performance category, with strong knowledge of performance fabric, garment construction methods (e.g., bonding, seam-sealing, knitting), and industry manufacturing processes. * Innovation Mindset: Demonstrated success in driving innovation in performance materials (such as moisture management, thermoregulation, and lightweight durability), with experience managing multiple overlapping seasons of product development. * Analytical & Organized: Strong attention to detail, with the ability to organize complex material data and deliver well-structured presentations and long-term planning documents to leadership. * Leadership & Mentorship: Deep understanding of apparel industry processes, with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams and mentoring junior colleagues. * Communication & Negotiation: Strong collaborative skills and experience engaging with diverse global stakeholders, featuring excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation abilities. * Agility: Able to balance creative design intent with rigorous technical organization and discipline, thriving in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. YOUR TEAM The Apparel Materials Development Performance team develops and delivers the company’s performance and sustainability strategy for all apparel textiles and raw materials. The team conducts cutting-edge research, defines global material strategies, and supports projects that advance more sustainable materials, products, and manufacturing processes. We work closely with cross-functional partners to embed material sustainability and high-performance priorities into the core of garment creation, with a strong focus on effective communication and knowledge sharing. As a Lead, you will contribute your deep technical textile expertise, drive the execution of material strategy, and ensure world-class fabrics and components are successfully integrated across our global sports product lines.

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IN SHORT: WE ARE SEEKING AN INTERNATIONALLY SEASONED, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED SENIOR LEAD - PATTERN ENGINEER TO SPEARHEAD THE TECHNICAL LIFECYCLE OF OUR GLOBAL PRODUCT LINES FROM CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION. THIS STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ROLE REQUIRES AN ELITE MASTERY OF BOTH DIGITAL AND MANUAL PATTERN ARCHITECTURE, COMBINED WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF MANAGING GARMENT ENGINEERS WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DESIGN, TECHNICAL DESIGN, AND SUPPLIERS. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL DIRECTLY LEAD, MANAGE, AND SCALE OUR INTERNAL TEAM OF PATTERN ENGINEERS. THIS POSITION ACTS AS THE DEFINITIVE GLOBAL TECHNICAL AUTHORITY FOR PATTERN ENGINEERING - ARCHITECTING SCALABLE FITTING SYSTEMS, OPTIMIZING CROSS-FUNCTIONAL 2D/3D WORKFLOWS, AND DRIVING THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF THEIR DIRECT REPORTS TO REDUCE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINES AND ENSURE FLAWLESS GLOBAL FIT CONSISTENCY.   YOUR MISSION: * Lead, manage, and evaluate a dedicated internal team of Pattern Engineers.  * Design and execute internal training on advanced fitting techniques, complex pattern adjustments, and Gerber Accumark instruction. * Manage team workflow distribution and capacity against dynamic seasonal product creation calendars. * Establish global pattern standards and technical production standards relative to fit and quality benchmarks. * Spearhead high-profile franchise updates and complex special projects, translating technical sketches into scalable, production-ready patterns. * Implement and maintain robust systems for fitting processes, digital pattern management, and PLM pipelines to improve sample approval rates. * Lead high-level fit sessions on live models, acting as the ultimate cross-functional expert between Design, Sourcing, and Materials. * Drive the integration of 2D digital pattern making with 3D prototyping software (CLO/Browzwear) to optimize fabric efficiency.   YOUR STORY: * A minimum of 10–12+ years of progressive experience in pattern engineering and technical apparel design within premier global brands.international vendor communication. Knowledge of a Swiss national language (German, French, or Italian) is considered a strong asset. * A degree in Apparel Design, Pattern Engineering, or a related field. Prior experience acting as an industry instructor or academic specialist in CAD/Pattern software is highly preferred. * Proven track record of direct people management and supervisory experience, having previously led a team of pattern engineers, patternmakers, or technical designers in a brand environment. * Expert-level proficiency in industry-leading CAD systems (specifically Gerber Accumark Explorer/Design & Marker Making or Lectra), PLM software, and Adobe Illustrator. High proficiency in 3D apparel simulation tools (CLO 3D or Browzwear) is required. * Deep expertise in the unique physical properties of technical, performance, stretch-woven, and multi-category fabrics (including experience in complex categories like performance bottoms and custom structured garments). * Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills with a proven track record of driving process improvements, managing team performance, and presenting technical solutions to senior leadership. * Full professional fluency in English (written and spoken) is required as the primary language for global cross-functional collaboration and    YOUR TEAM:   In this role, you will collaborate with the Development, Design, Materials, Sourcing, suppliers, and Product Management teams to translate the product design intent and style vision into a consistent fit, quality, and execution level by leading the team responsible for our product’s technical specifications on fit, sizing, and commercialization requirements.

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In short You will work in a fast-paced environment that offers autonomy and opportunities for growth. As the Senior Lead – Laboratory for the Asia region, you will be instrumental in delivering world‑class laboratory operations aligned to global standards while driving localized execution, governance, and collaboration. You will act as the primary bridge between regional labs and the Zurich global lab leadership, ensuring consistency, data reliability, governance, and continuous improvement across all lab practices. You will champion standardization of processes, support local lab teams with training and operational excellence, and provide strategic input to enhance lab systems and reporting globally.   Your Mission * Global Guidelines & Local Roll‑Out: Lead implementation and roll‑out of global lab guidelines, procedures, and standards across all labs in the Asia region. Translate global requirements into clear, actionable local practices, ensuring alignment with both global expectations and local realities. * Collaboration & Leadership: Act as a strong partner to the Zurich Global Lab Lead offering timely feedback, actionable insights, and strategic input into the development and refinement of global lab frameworks. Drive cross‑functional collaboration product development, sourcing, quality, and compliance stakeholders to ensure integrated lab processes. Leading central lab team members to work collaboratively with operation lab specialists on driving to the same business direction. * Supplier Representation & Transparency: Serve as the regional point of transparency for laboratory expectations and requirements across Tier 1 and Tier 2 business partners. Ensure structured escalation of operational issues, capability gaps, and compliance risks to Zurich labs, while actively gathering and representing supplier feedback to drive continuous improvement and expansion of the global laboratory framework. * Governance & Standardization: Establish and maintain local governance structures aligned with global lab policies, ensuring consistent execution and adherence to standardized practices. Lead initiatives to eliminate regional variability and ensure reliable, repeatable methodology across labs. * Audits & Quality Assurance: Coordinate and conduct internal audits, capability assessments, and compliance checks to validate alignment to global guidelines and local governance expectations. Partner with global and regional quality teams to remediate findings, embed corrective actions, and drive compliance consistency. * Data Reliability & Reporting: Ensure integrity, accuracy, and traceability of lab data across regional facilities. Provide strategic recommendations and oversight for lab reporting systems, metrics tracking, and data governance frameworks, ensuring robust and trustworthy results. * Training & Local Support: Design and deliver training programs, workshops, and onboarding to upskill local lab teams — fostering adoption of global methods and improved efficiency. Serve as the primary regional resource for troubleshooting, best practice adoption, and capability building. * Systems Development & Continuous Improvement: Contribute to evolution of lab systems (PLM, data platforms), tools, and reporting dashboards with a focus on usability, accuracy, and operational efficiency. Identify process gaps and lead projects that improve automation, standardization, and lab output value. * Team Hiring & Leadership. You will build, grow, and lead a high‑performing lab team in Asia. This includes: Recruiting top talent and scaling the lab organization, Coaching, inspiring, and developing direct reports to deliver excellence, Setting team goals, fostering accountability, and driving a culture of learning and collaboration.   What success looks like:  * High level of efficiency and consistency across Asia labs in compliance, data quality, and execution of test methods. * Regional lab operations that are fully aligned with global guidelines, local governance obligations, and audit expectations. * Strong strategic partnership with the Zurich team, reflected in shared initiatives, process improvements, and operational efficiency gains. * Continuous uplift in regional lab capability, knowledge sharing, and adoption of standardized practices.   Your story * Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science, Engineering, Materials, Chemistry, or related field (advanced degree preferred). * 10+ years of experience in laboratory leadership, quality systems, or testing operations within the textile/apparel/consumer product industries. * Proven experience in developing and implementing guidelines, governance frameworks, and standardized operating procedures. * Strong collaboration skills and experience working with global cross‑functional teams. * Demonstrated ability to drive improvement projects, audits, and compliance across complex environments. * Experience in lab data systems, reporting tools development and implementation. * Exceptional communication skills — capable of translating technical requirements into operational practices. * Strong analytical thinking, project management, and training delivery expertise. * Previous experience in global roll‑out of standards and lab governance highly desirable.   Meet the Team This role offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of harmonizing global lab excellence with regional execution — shaping consistent, high‑quality lab practices that support innovation, compliance, and product performance around the world.