Senior Materials Lead (Apparel & Accessories)

At WHOOP, we're on a mission to unlock human performance. WHOOP empowers users to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives.

We are seeking an exceptional multi-disciplined Senior Materials Lead. As a key member of our Apparel and Accessories team, you will be working at the intersection of materials innovation, technology and design, and using your advanced material knowledge & supplier networks to influence product strategy and decision-making. You will be the material expert leading initiatives to optimize the material supply chain for Apparel & Accessories at WHOOP, focusing heavily on materials development, supplier scouting, sourcing, cost negotiations and production readiness. 

This is a highly cross-functional role--you will partner with product Design, Product Marketing & Engineering to strengthen our material supply chain and support the management of our material vendors. The Apparel and Accessories you’ll help produce is part of an ongoing effort to optimize and advance the WHOOP product. If you're passionate about driving material innovation to shape the future of wearable technology, we want you on our team. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive and execute WHOOP’s global material development & innovation initiatives for apparel and accessories
• Own the end-to-end material development process, inclusive of evolutionary and revolutionary concepts for apparel and accessories
• Collaborate with WHOOP design, engineering, supply chain, quality and manufacturing to determine the ideal material and supply partner for apparel and accessories.
• Manage and develop material supplier relationships to drive performance, cost excellence, innovation, sustainability and supply risk. Categorize and leverage strategic vs. transactional suppliers.
• Proactively identify and resolve potential material manufacturing issues early in the process in order to avoid delays
• Drive material and overall process improvements and positively influence the design organization and product creation team.
• Identify future material innovations that could be exclusive to WHOOP and partner with the legal team to ensure proper protection agreements are in place.
• Provide input on new or alternative materials or suppliers for improved design, manufacturability or cost improvement.
• Create a process for material testing standards and qualifications for addition to the apparel and accessories range.
• Act as a thought leader and teacher within product creation to educate the organization on critical material considerations.
• Always approach with a focus on quality, sustainability and overall customer experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of experience in a combination of materials development, materials innovation or materials sourcing. 
• Diverse material experience and knowledge is preferred, including: fabric, leather, synthetic, trim, polymers, etc.
• Ability to teach / mentor others in the organization regarding material processes, manufacturing, etc.
• Manages effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous and changing environment with high emotional intelligence and resilience.
• Can travel approximately 20% of the time with demonstrated experience traveling to overseas suppliers to develop and commercialize new materials.
• Approach problems with a solution-oriented outlook and a strong bias for action. 
• Ability to partner across the organization to align on project goals, objectives and to quickly escalate and resolve issues as they arise.

This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office. 

Interested in the role, but don’t meet every qualification? We encourage you to still apply! At WHOOP, we believe there is much more to a candidate than what is written on paper, and we value character as much as experience. As we continue to build a diverse and inclusive environment, we encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply.

WHOOP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-verify to determine employment eligibility. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.