Manager, Run Research Athlete Performance

At Brooks, we believe a run can change a day, a life, the world. Everyone who works here is a key part of our obsession to make the best running gear on the planet. We want our business - which also happens to be our passion - to be a place where everyone feels welcome and comfortable being themselves. Our company culture defines us, bonds us together, and drives our success. We live this culture daily through our brand values: Runner First, Word is Bond, Champion Heart, There is no "I" in Run, and Keep Moving. This means we always solve for the runner, do what we say we will, give it our all, are generous with our humanity, and find a way to keep moving every day, because joy is kinetic. 

Are you ready to help create something extraordinary?

The mission of the Run Research Team is to create and leverage novel, scientific concepts and runner-driven product performance insights to create amazing products to help everyone run their path. The work produced by this team informs all the product categories for the Brooks Sports brand.

 

A key element of Brooks strategy is to expand the evolution of our elite athlete products.  As Manager of Run Research Athlete Performance, you will be responsible for developing and leading a team of athlete-focused researchers, providing leadership, direction and career development as well as ensuring the execution of team deliverables. You will manage research initiatives and testing to ensure that Brooks' elite athlete-focused running products are exceeding their performance product goals..

 

You will ensure that products, athletes, and their unique interactions are tested to Brooks' performance standards. This role will act as an information liaison between our multi-departmental infrastructure including Run Performance, Run Perception, Innovation, Development, Design, PLM, Merchandising and Sports Marketing to ensure the performance integrity of our product meets the needs of our elite athlete consumers.  You will ensure constant, effective communication between the athletes and business units and product teams to align goals, timelines, protocols, and potential outcomes of testing. Strong attention to detail, presentational skill, as well as the ability to manage multiple projects is vital to the success of this position.  

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead the project work of up to seven Run Research team members.
• Provide direction, coaching and training for direct reports. Monitor team performance, promote career development and be proactive on team dynamics within the group.
• Establish a highly effective and collaborative team culture across Brooks.
• Collaborate with the Senior Manager and Director of the Run Research Team to create a long-range talent management plan addressing the growth and development of the team while planning for future demand.
• Management and Advancement of Athlete Performance Program:
• Partner with senior members of the Run Research team to develop, maintain, and implement a 1-3 year strategic goal and action plan for athlete testing.
• Plan and execute research according to critical dates that lead to on-time delivery of testing results for product confirmation.
• Connect the dots between run perception and run performance metrics with the elite athlete at the center. Be able to speak to how fit, feel, ride, biomechanics, and exercise physiology come together to further our understanding of the elite runner for product creation.
• Work collaboratively with the Run Research Leadership Team to establish guidelines to assign priority to projects and define research agendas aimed at improving Athlete Performance and maximizing the use of testing resources across different sectors of Run Research. Monitor and adjust processes to meet the brand initiatives and demands.
• Lead and manage Brooks' human performance research programs that lead to new insights and technologies to improve product performance and inform direction for elite athlete product. Develop research initiatives that inform how learnings from athletes can be used to inform product creation for the day-to-day consumer. Lead project management of owned research projects across multiple business objectives, utilizing project management tools to track project development, tasks, deadlines, and budgets.
• Lead and manage the technical performance evolution of Run Signature, our concept of identifying the unique and highly individual characteristics of each runner specifically in the elite athlete space. Combine these learnings with key business partners to drive business decisions for future opportunities for elite athlete products.
• In partnership with key stakeholders, drive definition of testing requirements and define the future direction of exercise physiology testing at Brooks; identify intent/goals and prioritization to support elite athlete products.
• Effectively translate program updates to senior team members into articulate, persuasive, and actionable conclusions with recommendations for program advancements that have an impact on product creation and performance.
• Facilitate results share-out meetings, presenting test findings and explanations to high-level cross-functional teams within the company.
• Domestic (regular) and International (occasional) travel (up to 25% of time) to support Athlete Performance testing and related initiatives.
• Provide Business Recommendations and Vision:
• Deep understanding of critical deadlines and how they impact business decisions and objectives. Translation of these dates to junior team members to ensure timely delivery or product assessment conclusions.
• Understands the Brooks point of view as it relates to the entire brand as well as the competitive market.
• Identify opportunities in the elite Athlete Performance market based on trends and athlete needs related to exercise physiology, human movement, fit, feel and ride that will give Brooks and Brooks' athletes a competitive advantage.
• Network with industry leaders and participate in key industry functions to communicate Brooks' points of view that help shape the current thinking of running exercise physiology.  Opportunities to present at national and international conferences.
• Initiate and lead meetings with senior level members to identify growth opportunities for elite athlete products and how they support the multi-year business objectives.
• Collaborate with the Run Research Leadership Team to develop strategies to achieve organizational goals. Adapt the strategy to changing conditions.
• Develop and expand collaborations with other departments, including sports marketing and other athlete-centric areas) to share data, gather various forms of product feedback, and allow for optimal use of the athlete testing company-wide.
• Teach, train and present scientific principles to technical and non-technical groups to communicate the Brooks point of view inside and outside of our walls, including but not limited to Brooks Academy, Brookslandia and visiting groups to the Brooks Headquarters.
• Other responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. with a background in Exercise Physiology and/or Exercise Science or an equivalent analytical field and 3+ years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education, experience and training (e.g. Masters and 5+ years)
• Active Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) certification with 3+ years of applied laboratory-based research experience working with elite athletes, preferably runners.
• 5+ years of experience with scientific methodology and project management skills with a keen sense of detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others).
• 3+ years proven track record leading or mentoring high functioning reports. Strong desire to support people in their career growth.
• Expert understanding of anatomy, exercise physiology of running, applied physiology principles and experimental design and statistical methods with an understanding of Athlete Performance for running.
• Advanced understanding of running shoe design features and components and how they influence fit, feel, ride, and elite Athlete Performance required.
• Proven leadership capabilities to supervise a team and lead strategic business objectives.
• Proven track record of creating innovative research studies that enhance the understanding of runner perception related to product.
• Experience leading research projects including collecting, recording, and analyzing exercise physiology data, including metabolics, in an unbiased, objective manner.
• Experience in teaching, training, and presenting scientific principles to technical and non-technical groups to communicate the Brooks point of view inside and outside of our walls.
• Demonstrated ability to develop highly productive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds resulting in effective working relationships across the company.
• Curious and open-minded; always up for a challenge, inventive and creative. Ability to challenge the status quo- always looking at improving our people, products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details.
• Cross collaboration skills a must, with an ability to identify how your findings and results tie into the bigger picture of the products (costing, construction, design, merchandising, etc.).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an advanced ability to communicate a point of view and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.  Strong presentation skills required.
• A positive attitude with a passion for product evaluation and a willingness to explore new ways to more efficiently achieve testing goals.
• Detail oriented with ability to multi-task. Strong organizational and time management skills are a must.
• Significant experience with analytical systems with the ability to analyze test information and provide subjective feedback in a concise and actionable manner.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast paced, changing environment, anticipating, and resolving problems in a timely manner.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentational skills.
• Demonstrated MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access skills are required as well as experience working with PDM or other databases.
• Embraces and live the Brooks values!

The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, $128,702 - 205,943.50 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.   

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!

Benefits - including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.

Paid Time Off - Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus - in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.

Perks - including product discounts, a home office stipend, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.