Head of Materials Development Solihull, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Lead the future of materials at Gymshark. As our Head of Materials Development, you'll own the journey from concept to bulk production - ensuring every material we use meets our standards for performance, quality, durability, innovation, and sustainability. You'll guide and inspire a talented team of materials development managers, working closely with design, sourcing, colour, quality, and product development to deliver materials that are functionally ready, commercially viable, and world-class. Your work will be at the heart of product excellence and customer satisfaction.

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage the Materials Development team, overseeing the development of all textile and non-textile materials from concept through to bulk production, including washed garments.
• Ensure all materials meet Gymshark's standards for quality, durability, performance (including wash garment and colour fastness), aesthetics, and compliance across all product categories.
• Drive on-time material development, ensuring alignment with seasonal calendars, product development milestones, and bulk production timelines.
• Collaborate closely with product development, design, and sourcing teams to align material specifications with garment functionality and innovation needs.
• Oversee testing and validation protocols guaranteeing materials are performing and production ready. Manage the relationship with third-party laboratories.
• Manage the industrialization process, from base development and prototyping through to final bulk approval, working closely with mills and manufacturing partners.
• Establish and maintain technical documentation, including material specifications, test results, and performance benchmarks.
• Monitor industry trends, innovations, and sustainability opportunities in materials science, and translate them into competitive advantages.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement as well as evaluating their performance.
• Champion sustainability and circularity, integrating responsible material sourcing and lifecycle thinking into development processes.
• Support the sourcing strategy and regionalisation through developing locally sourced materials.
• Act as the technical referent for materials.

Accountable for

• Materials to be developed as per season retro-plannings.
• Publish regularly the KPI relating to materials suppliers.
• Review and publish the material performance standard manual yearly.
• Developing and fostering a high performing team.

What you'll need

Essential Criteria:

• Proven success in leading teams
• Advanced technical knowledge in fibre, yarn, fabric, knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing
• Knowledge of lab testing, global and commercial fabric testing criteria
• Ability to influence stakeholders
• Experience working with global markets
• Experience analysing supplier performance and able to make suggestions on improvements
• Strong knowledge of sustainable methods and practices within material production settings as well as within the product design/development stages
• Knowledge of garment construction is highly desirable
• Ability to anticipate problems, offer solutions, and address issues with materials
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Proficient at presenting to numerous different stakeholders in an engaging and informative way
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite and data management systems such as PLM
• Ability to travel

What you could also have

• Understanding of active/sport/fitness/fashion markets on a macro level

Work location

This is a hybrid role and would require the successful candidate to attend at least three days a week in GSIQ, Solihull, UK.

Belonging at Gymshark

Our mission is to be a place where everyone belongs. We're an equal opportunities employer and strive to be inclusive in all aspects of employment. We're committed to finding reasonable adjustments for candidates with specific needs or a disability during the recruitment process, and all applicants will be considered fairly and equally. If you'd like to request a reasonable adjustment please email .

About us

We're here to unite the conditioning community. We believe that putting the sweat in today prepares us for tomorrow. We give people the tools they need to reach further, go faster, be stronger. We celebrate those who show up-for themselves-to be their physical or mental best, whatever that means for them. We're a globally growing team inventing Gymshark's future.

The perks

Standard benefits include:

• Performance-based Bonus opportunity
• Funded Healthcare benefit
• 25 days holiday, additional day for your birthday & Bank Holidays
• Contributory Employer pension scheme
• Flexible benefits programme - including salary sacrifice EV scheme, dental insurance, cycle to work, tech scheme, holiday trading
• Gymshark Employee Discount & long service awards
• Access to High Street cashback and discounts
• Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support
• Enhanced Family Leave package
• Life Assurance