Senior Director, Raw Materials Innovation - Materials & Technology

lululemon; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

lululemon invites a visionary leader to shape the future of Raw Materials Innovation, spanning monomer to manufacturing, and to advance materials and process technologies that power performance apparel.

You will oversee a multi‑horizon portfolio, build a world‑class Prototype Innovation Lab, partner with suppliers, mills and research institutions, and translate bold ideas into scalable guest benefits, while influencing executive decisions and growing a high‑performing team.

Job description

Senior Director, Raw Materials Innovation - Materials & Technology

Description & Requirements

who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well.

At lululemon, we set audacious goals, nurture big growth, and engineer products that help our guests feel and perform their best. Leadership is more than a role or title here - it is a way of being. We are all leaders, committed to growth, results, and creating a future that would not exist without us.

We are looking for people who unite diverse perspectives, challenge what is possible, and bring bold ideas to life with courage, curiosity, creativity, and care.

about this team

The Raw Materials Innovation team shapes, surprises, and engineers delight into the future guest experience through advanced innovation principles, material science, manufacturing knowledge, and deep supply-chain partnership.

We go beyond traditional research and development. We innovate early in the value chain - across monomer, fiber, yarn, fabric, textile construction, machinery, manufacturing process, and commercialization pathways - to create materials and experiences our guests may not yet know they want.

We create new materials that did not exist. We enable new manufacturing techniques. We engineer new sensations, performance benefits, and functionality into our materials. We lead the industry in bringing sustainable solves to the materials that we use. Our work spans short-, mid-, and long-term horizons by defining the state of the art, leading research, building insight, generating unique points of view, creating prototypes, proving principles, protecting intellectual property, and taking innovation all the way to commercialization.

about this role

We are looking for a visionary innovation leader, technical expert, and organizational builder to shape the future of Raw Materials Innovation at lululemon.

This role is accountable for establishing lululemon's long-term Raw Materials Innovation strategy, advancing next-generation materials and manufacturing technologies, and building the organizational capabilities that will sustain our leadership in performance apparel for years to come.

As the senior leader for Raw Materials Innovation, you will oversee a multi-horizon innovation portfolio spanning near-term commercialization opportunities, mid-term material platform developments, and long-term breakthrough technologies. You will guide how we explore emerging technologies, invest in innovation capabilities, develop strategic partnerships, and create differentiated materials and manufacturing solutions that deliver meaningful guest benefits.

This role will also lead the creation and evolution of a world-class Raw Materials Prototype Innovation Lab, accelerating experimentation, learning, prototyping, testing, and commercialization readiness across the innovation ecosystem.

Success requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise, business acumen, and people leadership. You understand how fiber, yarn, fabric structure, machine parameters, manufacturing processes, and supply chain capabilities come together to create differentiated product experiences. You are equally comfortable working through complex technical challenges, influencing executive decision-making, and building high-performing teams.

You will collaborate with global suppliers, mills, machinery manufacturers, technology companies, research institutions, startups, and cross-functional partners to identify future opportunities, shape innovation roadmaps, and translate emerging technologies into scalable business impact.

a day in the life

Every day in this role is dynamic, technical, creative, and deeply connected to the future of the business.

You may begin your day by