Materials Development Manager, Footwear Innovation, Asia

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 Responsibilities:

Lead and advance innovation programs for next-generation footwear upper and future apparel materials, executing against innovation strategy and driving development across fibers, yarn systems, textile constructions, finishing technologies, and manufacturing processes.
Lead and execute a disciplined exploration process that advances material concepts through rapid prototyping, proof-of-concept, learning milestones, and readiness gates toward tech transfer.
Develop and advance material systems from the fiber level up, driving polymer selection, blends, coatings, cross-sections, and functional additives to unlock differentiated performance and sustainability outcomes.
Build and own the advanced performance fiber innovation toolkit, including material architectures, design rules, test methods, and partner capabilities that enable repeatable creation—not one-off solutions.
Lead development of engineered textiles across flat knits, warp knits, wovens, nonwoven, and hybrid constructions, connecting textile architecture to functional upper and apparel systems.
Execute strategy for fully-fashioned and 3D upper constructions, including additive or alternative manufacturing approaches, just-in-time color, and integrated decoration technologies.
Establish clear structure–property–experience relationships, linking material chemistry and construction to mechanical behavior and athlete experience through testing, experimentation, and data-driven decision making.
Build prototypes early and often, using failure as data; iterate rapidly while maintaining strong technical documentation so learnings compound across projects and seasons.
Mature successful innovations into scalable platforms, specifications, and design rules that product teams and manufacturing partners can confidently adopt.
Identify and cultivate a world-class partner ecosystem, spanning university research labs and strategic Tier 1 & 2 partners, to co-develop, validate, and scale breakthrough material technologies.
Act as a senior technical leader within Innovation, participating in project reviews, shaping the
Innovation roadmap, influencing portfolio direction, and guiding high-impact material decisions across functions.
Collaborate cross-functionally (Footwear, Apparel, Merchandising, Manufacturing, Commercial, Operations) to ensure innovations meet performance, sustainability, cost, validation, and scale requirements, including global travel to suppliers and factories as needed.
May lead up to 1 direct report providing coaching, mentorship and development opportunities.

Your Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Textile Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent experience, with a focus on fibers and other soft goods; Master’s or Doctorate preferred.
7+ years in textile/materials engineering or development (performance products preferred), owning work from concept through validation; proven ability to lead R&D programs under ambiguity and deliver PoCs and learning-driven milestones.
Deep knowledge of fibers/yarns, engineered textiles (knit/woven/nonwoven), characterization/testing; strong DOE capability; experience translating lab success into manufacturing-relevant specs and repeatability.
Prior experience managing technical associates is a plus.
Strong Project Management skills with a keen attention to detail in planning, organization and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
Strong presentation skills, and excellent written and verbal communication skills in a multi-cultural setting, with an advanced ability to communicate new ideas, complex concepts and functional expertise in a learning environment and influencing key internal and external stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to develop highly productive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds resulting in effective working relationships across the company.
Experience is delivering ground breaking innovations from concept to product and eventually on athlete with a proven benefit.
Proven ability to lead, collaborate with and influence cross-functional peers in the innovation process
Must be optimistic that a solution to difficult challenges can always be found, with the perseverance to keep investigating options until it is.
Curious and open-minded; always open for a challenge, inventive, creative. Ability to challenge the status quo – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details.
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, partners and the Brooks’ community.
Strong computer skills including experience with MS office
Global travel 30%.

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, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal 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.