Director, Advanced Concepts

Role: Director, Advanced Concepts

Team: Advanced Concept Design
Scope: Individual Contributor (M5)
Experience: 10+ years
Location: Ventura, CA, Hybrid

At Patagonia, our purpose is clear: We’re in business to save our home planet. Product sits at the heart of that mission- and how we innovate is just as important as what we create. As performance expectations evolve and new challenges emerge, we are called to think radically, act boldly, and push beyond incremental improvement to imagine entirely new possibilities.

The Director of Advanced Concepts plays a critical role in shaping the future of Patagonia product by leading the exploration and development of next-generation product solutions. This role connects deep technical expertise with visionary thinking, translating emerging insights, materials, and technologies into breakthrough concepts that redefine performance and responsible design. Working at the intersection of design, engineering, and research, the Director of Advanced Concepts builds and advances a pipeline of innovation from early discovery through validation and integration into the broader product roadmap.

Through close partnership with cross-functional teams and external collaborators, this leader ensures that bold ideas are not only visionary, but actionable and scalable, advancing innovation in a way that is aligned with Patagonia’s commitment to building the best product with the least impact.

What You’ll Do

• Guide and mentor a high-performing team of Designers, Design Engineers, and Materials Innovation Design to deliver breakthrough product concepts

• Manage the process from insights gathering to a prioritized roadmap of innovation projects

• Contribute to building the innovation strategy with the team and key cross functional partners

• Work with the team to correlate lab testing, in field on body data capture, and user perception to identify gaps and opportunities.

• Maintain the Innovation Roadmap and present it to key stakeholders at internal stage gates

• Drive cross-functional alignment to ensure projects integrate into product calendars and commercialization pathways

• Manage budgets, external contracts, grants, and NDAs in collaboration with legal and finance partners

• Protect and advance intellectual property in coordination with internal legal teams

• Collaborate with key stake holders from Design, Materials Development, Materials Quality, Product Impact, Sourcing, Business Unit Directors, and Commercialization

• Establish and manage partnerships with external organizations, including research institutions, universities, startups, and suppliers

• Monitor and translate emerging trends and technologies from adjacent industries into actionable innovation opportunities

• Deliver operational excellence with both internal teams and external organizations

• Maintain updated status documentation of all projects including risk and readiness levels

• Identify and prioritize white space opportunities across product categories and emerging consumer needs

• Embed circularity, low-impact materials, and regenerative design principles into early-stage concept development

Who You Are

• Environmental Steward – Deeply committed to protecting our planet through while driving new innovations.

• Highly Experienced – Demonstrated success bringing innovative products to market, especially in apparel and equipment.

• Innovative Thinker – Strong collaborator with a proven ability to solve complex problems creatively.

• Resilient & Self‑Directed – Effectively manages multiple priorities and delivers results in fast‑moving environments.

• Adaptable – Flexible and open to pivoting in response to evolving business needs while honoring design intent.

• Detail‑Oriented Communicator – Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including clear and compelling presentations.

• Self‑Aware & Inclusive – Reflective and receptive to diverse perspectives; adjusts behaviors to support an inclusive workplace.

Experience You Bring

• A degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Textile Engineering, or equivalent experience

• Extensive experience in the creation of highly technical apparel and equipment in an R&D environment

• Managing a diverse team of both individual contributors as well as Senior Managers

• Strong understanding of operations/project management to implement new processes and manage complex projects

• High perfor