Director, Advanced Concepts

Role Overview

Patagonia is looking for a Director of Advanced Concepts to help define the next generation of product innovation. This role sits within the Advanced Concept Design team and focuses on turning emerging insights, new materials, and advanced technologies into product ideas that improve performance while reducing impact.

The position is an individual contributor role at the M5 level and requires more than 10 years of experience. The job is based in Ventura, California, with a hybrid work setup.

Patagonia’s mission is to use business as a force for good and help protect the planet. In that spirit, this role combines technical depth with future-focused thinking to move ideas from early discovery to validated concepts that can inform the broader product roadmap.

What You Will Do

• Lead and coach a strong team of designers, design engineers, and materials innovation specialists to develop advanced product concepts.
• Oversee the full innovation flow, starting from insight collection and ending with a prioritized project roadmap.
• Help shape the innovation strategy alongside the team and cross-functional partners.
• Work with the team to connect lab testing, in-field body data, and user feedback to uncover gaps and new opportunities.
• Keep the innovation roadmap current and share progress with internal stakeholders at stage-gate reviews.
• Build alignment across teams so projects fit product calendars and commercialization plans.
• Handle budgets, external agreements, grants, and NDAs in partnership with legal and finance.
• Safeguard and strengthen intellectual property with support from internal legal teams.
• Partner closely with design, materials development, materials quality, product impact, sourcing, business unit leaders, and commercialization teams.
• Create and maintain relationships with research institutions, universities, startups, and suppliers.
• Track new trends and technologies from adjacent industries and convert them into practical innovation directions.
• Ensure smooth execution across internal and external collaborators.
• Maintain detailed project records, including status, risks, and readiness levels.
• Spot and rank whitespace opportunities across product categories and emerging consumer needs.
• Integrate circularity, low-impact materials, and regenerative design principles into early concept work.

Who You Are

• You care deeply about environmental responsibility and want to drive meaningful innovation.
• You have strong experience bringing advanced products to market, especially in apparel and equipment.
• You are a creative problem-solver who works well across disciplines.
• You can manage multiple priorities, stay resilient, and deliver in fast-moving environments.
• You adapt quickly when business needs change while still protecting design intent.
• You communicate clearly, including through polished written and verbal presentations.
• You are self-aware, inclusive, and open to different perspectives.

Experience and Qualifications

• A degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Textile Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Substantial experience creating highly technical apparel and equipment in an R&D setting.
• Experience leading both individual contributors and senior managers.
• Solid knowledge of operations and project management for complex process implementation.
• Leadership skills that help teams perform at a higher level.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Ability to build custom schedules and timelines for complex programs.
• Comfort using modern product development tools such as CAD, simulation, digital prototyping, 3D software, and data capture tools.
• Proven success taking innovation from concept through commercialization.
• Experience applying sustainability principles to product development.
• History of building partnerships with universities, startups, and suppliers.

Compensation

The hiring range for this role is USD 203,300 to USD 225,000 per year. Pay is set based on the local market median for comparable roles, and the final offer may vary depending on skills, experience, and budget.

Benefits

Patagonia provides a broad benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement, and leave of absence coverage. Specific benefits may differ slightly based on employment type.

Workplace Details

This is a hybrid position with a standard in-office schedule from Tuesday through Thursday, and remote work on the other days. Additional office visits may occasionally be needed for team events or important meetings.

Employee Conduct

All employees are expected to help maintain a respectful, cooperative, and inclusive workplace through professional interactions with coworkers, customers, and vendors.

Equal Opportunity

All qualified candidates will be considered without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.