Job Description

Your opportunity at Arc'teryx:
As the Senior Manager, Future Exploration - Advanced Concepts (AC), you lead the exploration and discovery of far-future opportunities and solutions to drive and deliver innovation for the mountain athlete everywhere. You lead foresight research, tech scouting, concept strategies and external partnership activities within the AC team. You partner deeply with AC, cross-functional collaborators and external partners to foster a creative mindset, build strategies and translate exploration avenues into actionable, tactical concept initiatives for adoption into functional channels. In building and managing the exploration programs, you navigate complexities, enroll partners, lead in operational excellence and coordinatetime lines and roadmaps to maintain our strong ongoing portfolio of innovations across method, product, performance and experience.
This role is based out of our North Vancouver office and is expected to be performed on site.
Meet the team:
The Advanced Concepts team drives breakthrough innovation in snow, trail and climb for the mountain athlete everywhere. Fueled by curiosity, we take a holistic approach to identifying future needs and tangible solutions across advanced materials, products, technologies, and experiences. We are a team of builders, problem solvers and outdoor enthusiasts. Our in-house, end-to-end capabilities in research, engineering, design, development, digital experience and product validation allow us to innovate head-to-toe solutions that bring the coast mountain experience to the world. Our unique methodology, mindset of sustainability, and fanatic passion for product are at the heart of what we do.
If you were in the Senior Manager, Future Exploration - Advanced Concepts role now, here are some of the core activities you would be doing:

• Building, executing and leading the exploration programs within AC
• Building strategies in partnership with AC and collaborators that enables the operational frame work to transition concepts from idea to funded AC workstreams; problem statement, business case, scope, resource mapping, insights, foresight, roadmap, management approach, etc.
• Creating frameworks to identify and manage future initiatives, track partners and approaches to decide and strategize priority projects
• Acting as the central point of contact to stakeholders; you are a creator, collaborator, and conduit for AC between Development, Strategy, Sourcing, Merchandising, Suppliers, Consultants, and Inline teams to drive and advance technical solutions and innovation platforms that enable and shape the overall strategic direction in how we deliver excellence
• Liaising and building strong networks with external cross-functional partners such as thought leaders, start-ups, industry leading companies, research groups, accelerators, etc.
• Participating cross-functionally in broader organizational AC strategy and planning, ideating beyond the AC category into other product types
• Leading in creation, implementation and execution of idea generation strategy for use across internal and external avenues, to identify and create new insights, ideas, problems and opportunities towards the AC key priorities and long-term innovation pipeline
• Creating and managing the systems for documentation, tracking and visualization of the AC innovation pipeline and roadmap
• Partnering with project teams, vendors, cross-functional partners and external partners to support in driving project deliverables are on time, within budget, appropriately reviewed and validated
• Leading key stakeholders through project kick-offs to ensure the clear scope, ownership, decision RACI, budget and brief are defined and creating tracking mechanisms for timeline, activities, and deliverables
• Establishing and managing AC management cycles within the team and across key partners and senior leadership, providing proactive transparency, communication, prioritization and decision-making on a scheduled cadence
• Working with projects teams to establish and maintain a robust ACIP portfolio across projects and categories, in partnership with Legal
• Creating and driving overall systems and filings for funding programs (SR&ED, IRAP, NRC, MITACS, and so forth) and mobilizing the team to compile project scope, activities, and expenditures, of projects deemed eligible for submission
• Managing overall Advanced Concepts budget (CAPEX & OPEX), in partnership with VP of AC, including working with project teams to document, monitor and adjust based on priorities and project needs
• Driving key initiatives to support the future of Arc'teryx with a focus on product circularity
• Ensuring you and your team maintains current industry technology, product innovation, research literature and equipment knowledge through education and hands-on experience

Here are some things you could be working on in the future:

• Leading start-up pilot trials in partnership with functional teams
• Leading cross-functional innovation initiatives connected to broader, long-term strategic goals
• Creating and driving strategic foresight programs at an enterprise level as an input to the long-term planning process

Are you our next Senior Manager, Future Exploration?

• You have a Degree in Foresight Strategy, Design (Apparel, Industrial or Textile Science), Research or Engineering and 8+ years of industry experience in technical product or materials innovation and/or future outdoor strategy with 5+ years' experience leading complex projects
• You have the ability to present strategic ideas through a storytelling lens and solicit buy-in from all levels of an organization
• You have experience with concepting ambiguous far-future ideas and are familiar with emerging technological advanced that will impact our industry and communities
• You have a strong understanding of advanced softgoods and hardgoods manufacturing, material technologies and engineered solutions
• You have a keen interest in technical equipment and apparel and its application to a variety of environments(research, insights, creative, engineering, materials and construction)
• You communicate the vision, align your team around common objectives, and foster commitment to these objectives
• You have strong understanding and interest in circular systems and the innovations that will make them possible
• You are proactive in identifying the root cause of issues, seeking the best (sometimes not the easiest) solutions with an unwavering commitment to do what is right
• You remain highly flexible and adaptable when faced with ambiguity
• You effectively balance autonomy and collaboration
• You inspire breakthrough thinking and continuous improvement
• Your passion for your work is paralleled by your passion for getting outside and living it
• A strong knowledge of Arc'teryx products and interest/involvement in activities Arc'teryx makes products for

$125,000 - $172,000 a year
A reasonable estimate of the pay range is CAD$125,000 - CAD$172,000 at the time of this posting. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors such as job-related skills, relevant experience, education and/or training. The upper end of the range is typically reserved for candidates with demonstrated expertise that is above job requirements or who bring exceptional directly transferable experience.
Please note that the range details above reflect the base pay only and does not include our competitive bonus program and benefits that we offer.
Equal Opportunity
Arc'teryx is committed to actively creating and fostering a culture of inclusivity where voices are heard, people are seen, and values are respected. We care about the uniqueness of our applicants, employees, and guests, and we do so in a safe space fueled by curiosity and acceptance.
Creating an inclusive workplace is connected to our core value Do Right while also having the added benefit of helping make our business better. We believe inclusion helps us to create a healthier, happier workplace, drive creativity and innovation, and reflect the communities where we operate.
All applicants, employees, and guests can expect equality of opportunity and fair treatment in alignment with our values.
Leave it Better
We believe that the mountains transform us, that how we adventure matters, and that there's always a better way.
Join us in creating positive change in ourselves, our communities, and the world.
Live it. Get out there - the mountains make us better
Disruptive evolution. In pursuit of better. Always.
Commit. We set bold objectives and see them through.

Skills Required