Associate Footwear Material Developer

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Who We Are

Brooks is a team of passionate people united by a desire to do meaningful work, lead healthy lives and make a difference. We share a focused mission: to inspire everyone to run and be active. That’s it. No distractions—it’s all about the run. Through science, creativity, service, authenticity and connection, we obsess over delivering the best running gear on the planet. We do it our way, with our unique spirit, with a goal of being more relevant to runners than any other brand, day after day and mile after mile. We are determined to innovate, challenging ourselves to lead thought at every turn. Inside these walls and on the roads, tracks and trails, we live and breathe Run Happy, celebrating the positive impact running has on our lives and others. We inject it into all we do because it makes everything better, smarter, more fun and more memorable. Our company culture defines us, bonds us together and creates the conditions for success. It is lived daily as a behavioral expression of our collective set of brand values: Connect with People, Innovate for our Customer, Compete as a Team, Build Trust, Have Fun & Bring Passion, and Be Active. If you’re on our team, it means you’re part of creating something extraordinary. You’re part of Brooks.

Your Job

As an Associate Footwear Material Developer at Brooks in Asia, you’ll play an integral role on the Footwear Development Team to drive execution of the seasonal materials agenda through all phases of materials development. You will regularly collaborate cross-functionally with Product Developers, Designers, Product Line Managers and material vendors to achieve a common goal – making the best running footwear on the planet. The Footwear Materials Development team is responsible for the timely, profitable, and quality delivery of materials for Brooks Footwear. 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 help manage the palettes, catalogues, and other material resources in the physical and digital libraries for your location; ensuring alignment with the HQ tools. You’ll participate in the overall process of product creation from idea generation, product design, prototype development, physical testing through commercialization and production.

Your Responsibilities

Collaborate with Global Material Team to develop material specifications for product functionality, durability and aesthetics, including identifying needs and researching solutions.

• Responsible for organizing and maintaining the Brooks’ materials library and ensuring the latest materials are organized and presented with accurate information both for physical inventory and in the PLM system.
• Coordinate and follow up shipments that arrive to HQ on behalf of the material department.
• Build material kits and material boards when needed to support remote teammates.
• Collaborate with our development, design and product line management teams to help create efficient and streamlined material tools for footwear product creation use.
• Assist in the coordination and communication of supplier visits. Visit to Suppliers to support projects and initiatives on behalf of the Global Materials Team.
• Support Materials Team with execution of seasonal projects and palette execution.
• Partner cross-functionally with innovation, development, costing, quality, and HQ teammates.
  

Partner with manager to drive creation of new materials through materials calendar including pre-development. Partner on material development calendar creation and communication with Materials’ Leadership on material status such as cost information, lead time, limitation etc. Familiarize yourself with the risk factors associated with all material developments.

Coordinate with relative team to 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.

Continuously build and grow materials expertise and build a network of contacts within the industry.

International and domestic travel as required to achieve a high level of product and technology development.

Qualifications

• BS in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Materials Engineering, Textile Chemistry or related field; may be substituted with relevant work experience
• 1+ years of experience in the material development of performance footwear projects.
• Experience with international vendors preferred.
• Desire to work in footwear and willing to learn construction methods, materials, testing & evaluation techniques. Ability to understand how materials play a part in the fit and feel of performance footwear.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, demonstrating effective listening through concise, clear verbal and written communication.
• Good interpersonal skills that encourage and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the company
• Ability to work cross-functionally to achieve goals, uncover opportunities and move materials forward within the footwear creation process, anticipating when to ask for support.
• Execution of tasks independently and understand when to look for support to problem solve and stay on track.
• 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
• Willingness to travel (Domestic/ International). Vaccination (COVID) preferred.
• 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.
  

Brooks Sports, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and our policy is to maintain employment practices that conform to the intent and letter of the laws regarding equal employment opportunity. Brooks is committed to affording equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual preference, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws or regulations. This commitment applies to all phases of the recruitment process including hiring, selection, promotions, transfers, demotions, compensation, benefits, or training. Brooks will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue business hardship or a direct threat to the health or safety of any individual.