Role: Director, Advanced Concepts
Team: Advanced Concept Design
Scope: Individual Contributor (M5)
Experience: 10+ years
Location: Ventura, CA, Hybrid
At Patagonia, our purpose is clear: We’re in business to save our home planet. Product sits at the heart of that mission- and how we innovate is just as important as what we create. As performance expectations evolve and new challenges emerge, we are called to think radically, act boldly, and push beyond incremental improvement to imagine entirely new possibilities.
The Director of Advanced Concepts plays a critical role in shaping the future of Patagonia product by leading the exploration and development of next-generation product solutions. This role connects deep technical expertise with visionary thinking, translating emerging insights, materials, and technologies into breakthrough concepts that redefine performance and responsible design. Working at the intersection of design, engineering, and research, the Director of Advanced Concepts builds and advances a pipeline of innovation from early discovery through validation and integration into the broader product roadmap.
Through close partnership with cross-functional teams and external collaborators, this leader ensures that bold ideas are not only visionary, but actionable and scalable, advancing innovation in a way that is aligned with Patagonia’s commitment to building the best product with the least impact.
What You’ll Do
Guide and mentor a high-performing team of Designers, Design Engineers, and Materials Innovation Design to deliver breakthrough product concepts
Manage the process from insights gathering to a prioritized roadmap of innovation projects
Contribute to building the innovation strategy with the team and key cross functional partners
Work with the team to correlate lab testing, in field on body data capture, and user perception to identify gaps and opportunities.
Maintain the Innovation Roadmap and present it to key stakeholders at internal stage gates
Drive cross-functional alignment to ensure projects integrate into product calendars and commercialization pathways
Manage budgets, external contracts, grants, and NDAs in collaboration with legal and finance partners
Protect and advance intellectual property in coordination with internal legal teams
Collaborate with key stake holders from Design, Materials Development, Materials Quality, Product Impact, Sourcing, Business Unit Directors, and Commercialization
Establish and manage partnerships with external organizations, including research institutions, universities, startups, and suppliers
Monitor and translate emerging trends and technologies from adjacent industries into actionable innovation opportunities
Deliver operational excellence with both internal teams and external organizations
Maintain updated status documentation of all projects including risk and readiness levels
Identify and prioritize white space opportunities across product categories and emerging consumer needs
Embed circularity, low-impact materials, and regenerative design principles into early-stage concept development
Who You Are
Environmental Steward – Deeply committed to protecting our planet through while driving new innovations.
Highly Experienced – Demonstrated success bringing innovative products to market, especially in apparel and equipment.
Innovative Thinker – Strong collaborator with a proven ability to solve complex problems creatively.
Resilient & Self‑Directed – Effectively manages multiple priorities and delivers results in fast‑moving environments.
Adaptable – Flexible and open to pivoting in response to evolving business needs while honoring design intent.
Detail‑Oriented Communicator – Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including clear and compelling presentations.
Self‑Aware & Inclusive – Reflective and receptive to diverse perspectives; adjusts behaviors to support an inclusive workplace.
Experience You Bring
A degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Textile Engineering, or equivalent experience
Extensive experience in the creation of highly technical apparel and equipment in an R&D environment
Managing a diverse team of both individual contributors as well as Senior Managers
Strong understanding of operations/project management to implement new processes and manage complex projects
High performance leadership by elevating teams to their capabilities
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes
Ability to create custom calendars and timelines for complex projects
Proficiency with modern product development tools (e.g., CAD, simulation, digital prototyping, 3D software, data capture tools)
Proven track record leading innovation from concept through commercialization
Experience integrating sustainability principles into product innovation
Track record building and leveraging external partnerships (universities, startups, suppliers)
Hiring Range: $203,300-$225,000 USD Annual
At Patagonia, pay ranges are assigned to a job based on the location specific market median of similar jobs according to 3rd party salary benchmark surveys. Individual pay within that range can vary for several reasons including skills/capabilities, experience, and available budget. The Hiring Range reflects where in the range we intend to hire for this role.
Benefits
Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.
Workplace Location Overview
This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday - Thursday on-site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.
Employee Conduct
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.
Skills Required
- 10+ years experience in product innovation or related field
- Degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Textile Engineering, or equivalent experience
- Extensive experience creating highly technical apparel and equipment in an R&D environment
- Experience managing a diverse team including individual contributors and senior managers
- Strong understanding of operations and project management for complex projects
- High-performance leadership with ability to elevate teams
- Deep understanding of manufacturing processes
- Ability to create custom calendars and timelines for complex projects
- Proficiency with modern product development tools (CAD, simulation, digital prototyping, 3D software, data capture tools)
- Proven track record leading innovation from concept through commercialization
- Experience integrating sustainability, circularity, and low-impact materials into product innovation
- Track record building and leveraging external partnerships (universities, startups, suppliers)
- Experience managing budgets, external contracts, grants, NDAs, and protecting IP in coordination with legal/finance
Patagonia Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Patagonia and has not been reviewed or approved by Patagonia.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, with company-paid medical premiums from day one for full- and part-time employees and covered mental-health visit costs. This breadth and employer-paid structure position core medical care as a standout element of total rewards.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental and family leave, on-site child-development centers at select locations, adoption assistance, and childcare subsidies are repeatedly highlighted. These supports are linked to strong return-to-work outcomes and reinforce a family-friendly workplace.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Employees can access fully paid time for mission-aligned programs such as environmental internships and paid activism hours, alongside PTO. This mix expands time-off options beyond standard vacation and sick time.
Patagonia Insights
What We Do
Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. A certified B-Corporation, Patagonia’s mission is to save our home planet. The company is recognized internationally for its commitment to authentic product quality and environmental activism, donating 1% of sales annually, contributing over $100 million in grants and in-kind donations since 1985. We’re always looking for motivated people to join us in our retail stores; at our Ventura, California headquarters; Reno, Nevada Service Center; and occasionally in our overseas offices. We’re especially interested if you love spending as much time as possible in the mountains or the wild, feel more at home in a base camp or on the river than an office, and have a passion for something outside of yourself, whether for surfing or opera, climbing or gardening, skiing or community activism. Learn more about who we are and how we hire by visiting our Careers website at http://www.patagonia.com/us/careers.
