Who We Are:
At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.
Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.
Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:
· Runner First
We act in the best interest of the runner
· Word is Bond
We do what we say we’ll do
· Champion Heart
We give our all in everything we do
· There is no “I” in Run
We stay generous with our humanity
· Keep Moving
We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!
We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.
Your Job:
As a Footwear Material Developer II at Brooks, you will be an integral part of the Footwear Development Team driving the execution of the seasonal materials agenda through all phases of materials development. You will regularly partner with Product Developers, Designers, Product Line Managers and material vendors to achieve a common goal – making the best running footwear on the planet. You are responsible for the timely, profitable, and quality delivery of materials for Brooks Footwear. You’ll bring new materials to the team and work closely with vendors to ensure that Brooks’ footwear product goals are achieved. In this role, you’ll partner closely with the Materials Design team to create seasonal palettes that meet the needs of our growing footwear brand. You’ll be involved in the overall process of product creation from idea generation, product design, prototype development, physical testing through commercialization and production.
In this role, you’ll lead the work across the supply chain to create materials, validate them and ensure that products can be made and commercialized with all footwear materials. As a key member of the materials team, you’ll explore, research and develop various materials including knits, woven, non-woven, synthetics and all other materials used in footwear.
Your Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with product teams to develop materials specifications for product functionality, durability, and aesthetics, including identifying needs and researching solutions.
- Lead in the technical execution of season toolbox needs based on the cross-collaborative requirements for each product.
- Drive creation of new materials through materials calendar including pre-development. Partner on calendar creation with head of materials department.
- Coordinate and oversee the review of materials with Asia materials testing team to ensure that all materials pass Brooks standards. Act as liaison as needed for Footwear Developers and review together as needed. Manage communication to project teams as it relates to materials testing requirements and results.
- Develop and maintain an organized materials library, complete with up-to-date materials, testing history, and specifications; either within FLEX system or physical
- Continuously build advanced materials expertise and make recommendations for our products; create and build a network of contacts within the industry.
- Evaluate the risk factors associated with all material developments and communicate them to the product teams.
- Assist with advanced materials R&D projects (when needed).
- Work cross-functionally to drive goals, uncover opportunities, and move materials forward within the footwear creation process.
- Manage multiple projects at a time across multiple timelines including validating materials both on and off products.
- Contribute ideas for product design, construction, materials and components to enhance functionality, aesthetics, fit and profit margins.
- Create seasonal material palettes and tools for use in products.
- Serve as the technical material resource for members of the project teams and other cross-functional footwear team members
- Evaluate new product /materials applications to improve cost, reduce environmental impact, or improve quality of Brooks’ products.
- Stays abreast of new technology and competitive products by attending material and machine shows and provide recommendations from the materials perspective.
- Generate technical product creation packages to communicate intended construction and aesthetic details for each project and ensure alignment across teams. Ensure final product has a paper trail.
- Work with Wear Testing and Human Performance Lab on the testing and validation of all performance characteristics of materials from early prototypes to final confirmation.
- Collaborate with materials design to research and source materials and trims to meet all business objectives and ensure delivery of seasonal market palette.
- Partner with Asia Materials team to support as needed.
- Travel to suppliers 2 or more times per year and ensure regular ongoing communication with suppliers
- Other responsibilities as required
Qualifications:
- BS in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Materials Engineering, Textile Chemistry or related field; may be substituted with relevant work experience
- 5+ years of experience in footwear textile development/design, material development
- Solid understanding of footwear construction methods, materials, testing & evaluation techniques. Ability to understand how materials play a part in the fit and feel of performance footwear.
- Ability to analyze test information and provide subjective feedback in a concise and understandable manner
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating effective listening through concise, clear verbal and written communication
- Excellent interpersonal skills that encourage and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the company
- Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks while observing the big picture and understanding how everything fits. Willingness to dive into the details.
- Proven ability to drive a decision in a collaborative, cross-functional group without command/ control to meet strategic objectives.
- High level of independent work ethic and ability with the instinct to know when to reach out for support.
- Curious and open-minded; always open for a challenge, inventive, creative. With the ability to challenge the status quo – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details.
- Ability to work professionally and effectively within the team and across departments while being able to balance multiple tasks within cross-seasonal deadlines.
- Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our product or other departments’ operations – the ability to “connect the dots”
- Work independently and with Manager to achieve materials strategy goals.
- Curious and open-minded – be open to a challenge and always looking to improve our products and processes.
- Computer proficiency with office software, MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint. Adobe Illustrator and FlexPLM
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (15-25% travel time)
- Embraces and lives the Brooks values
- Passionate participation in Brooks’ sports activities a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner in order to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
- Unwavering demonstration of Brooks’ corporate values: Serve People, Lead Thought, Compete as a Team, Have Integrity, Be Active, Have Fun!
Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $96,358 - $144,538 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Other:
Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!
Benefits- including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.
Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.
Bonus- in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance. Perks- including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.
Location- You will spend 3 per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.
At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), honorable discharge or military status, protected citizen status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained guide dog by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.
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Last updated on Oct 16, 2024