Senior Manager, Proof of Concept Validation

Department: Product Creation Development Reports to:Director, Finished Goods Proof of Concept Location: North Vancouver Your Opportunity at ARC’TERYX:As the Senior Manager, Proof of Concept Validation, you will lead a team of specialists across technical sets for Gore, Knits, Wovens, Hardgoods, and Component Compatibility Testing. Your team will work within the Proof of Concept phase to deliver validated technical solutions that support seasonal product testing, innovation, and brand integrity. Technical Sets are combinations of materials, technologies, and construction methods that require testing to validate feasibility, durability, strength, manufacturability, repairability, and disassembly. These sets include new material applications, assembly techniques, or sequences that have not been previously tested or commercialized by Arc’teryx. Component compatibility testing involves evaluating finished goods using threads, adhesives, interfacing, taping, heat transfers, and other construction components to ensure cohesive performance and durability. You’ll collaborate cross-functionally to ensure product feasibility, durability, and sustainability—driving excellence in technical development from concept to commercialization. This role is based out of our North Vancouver office and is open to hybrid remote work. Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada. Meet your future team:We’re a small but high-performing team at the heart of product creation. Our work behind the scenes powers every stage of development—from concept to commercialization. We collaborate closely with Designers, Product Developers, and specialists in Circularity, Repairability, Disassembly, Raw Material Development, and Manufacturing to validate the finished goods toolbox and ensure go-to-market success. By building strong relationships across functions, we transform ideas into durable, sustainable, and innovative products that meet the highest standards of performance and integrity.

If you were the Senior Manager, Proof of Concept Validation now, here are some of the core activities you would be doing:

• Supporting the Director, Finished Goods Proof of Concept in building and coaching a team of leads and assistants in fostering technical excellence
• Driving, leading, coaching and inspiring Technical Set Leads, Component Compatibility testing lead and assistants to execute seasonal testing plans aligned with brand vision and business calendars
• Collaborating with Raw Materials Development, Raw Materials Quality, Product Creation and Quality partners to ensure clear understanding of product needs are considered throughout the product development testing and creation lifecycle
• Coaching the team to partner closely with Design, Product creation development, and Quality to deliver pre-season validated technical sets for Gore, Knits, Wovens, Hardgoods and Components.
• Overseeing the testing and validation of combined materials, technologies and construction methods for feasibility, durability, manufacturability, repairability and disassembly
• Overseeing the testing and validation of component materials, like adhesives, fusing, taping, thread, foams, snaps, heat transfers, embellishment methods for feasibility, durability, manufacturability, repairability and disassembly
• Managing team workload and partner with Product Operations to meet calendar milestones
• Managing sustainability, circularity, repairability, and disassembly through all aspects of Gore, Knits, Woven’s, Hardgoods technical sets testing and Component compatibility testing.
• Reporting team performance metrics regularly to management team (;validation percentage execution against the corporate calendar, workflow, team capacity vs. line list requirements)
• Maintaining consistent communication with Design, Advanced Concept, Product Creation Development and Quality to uphold standards.
• Collaborating with Supply Chain and Sourcing team to assign Tier 1 partners to support finished goods validation and testing for proof of concepts
• Establishing and adhering to the product development process, ensuring use of standard spec documentation to provide sufficient detail to accurately produce mockups, test samples and maintain an accurate Centric PLM database and technical specifications.
• Establishing and maintaining accurate documentation in centric and collaborating with technology teams to build towards future system requirements to enhance data visibility
• Strategizing and partnering to ensure appropriately trained and experienced personnel are in place to meet departmental objectives
• Supporting Inline Execution, Commercialization and factory execution of new product to ensure Arc’teryx continues to achieve state of the art opportunities for product innovation
• Ensuring development best practice processes and procedures are understood by all team members and continually contribute to support Leadership to refine as needed to meet changing business needs and design integrity
• Challenging existing ways of working in pursuit of opportunities for product innovation and creation. You participate in the recruitment, onboarding, training and development of suitable resources to meet product development goals and strategies
• Ensuring that Arcteryx brand standards and innovation are met within your category of accountability
• Upholding Fair Labor Association’s Workplace Code of Conduct and Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing, throughout the Arc’teryx supply chain

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

• Building the future resourcing needs and responsibilities of Proof of Concept
• Collaborating with design team in identifying future innovations that require advance testing and validation needs
• Travelling to T1 factories and collaborating on testing methods and calibrating from Design Centre to abroad.

Are you our next Senior Manager, Proof of Concept Validation?

• You have 10 years’ experience in raw materials development, raw materials quality, product integrity, technical product development, or manufacturing engineering, with minimum 3-5 years in leading a team
• You have proven leadership and project management skills in a cross functional apparel/textile environment
• You have a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Apparel or Textile Design, Materials Science, or Engineering
• You have an in-depth knowledge of apparel and hardgoods construction, material construction and properties, pattern making, costing, bill of materials, embroidery and surface applications
• You have proven skills in interpreting design intent and product innovation
• You have a strong understanding of international test standards and methods
• You have proven performance history with domestic and offshore vendors and manufacturers
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills
• You have intermediate to advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office
• You set a clear vision, align your team around common objectives, and foster commitment to these objectives
• You are proactive in identifying the root cause of issues and developing solutions
• You remain highly flexible and adaptable when faced with ambiguity
• You are able to balance autonomy and collaboration
• You inspire breakthrough thinking and continuous improvement
• You seek the best (but sometimes not the easiest) solutions, with an unwavering commitment
• Your passion for your work is paralleled by your passion for getting outside and living it

$125,000 - $156,000 a yearA reasonable estimate of the pay range is CAD $125,000 - CAD $156,000 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.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 OpportunityArc’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 BetterWe 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.