Come join the Run Research Team at Brooks!

Apply at Brooksrunning.com
brooksrunning.com - Product Fit & Wear Test Analyst (lever.co)

Who We Are:

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?

Your Job:

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.

Technical running gear starts and ends with the runner. As a Product Wear Test Analyst, you will be an integral part of the Run Research Team responsible for providing quantitative and qualitative data that assesses if Brooks products are surpassing the expectations of the runner. You are responsible for collecting this data throughout the product creation cycle, from compound creation to first product prototypes all the way through to commercialization. With access to over 100,000 product testers across the nation, you will provide key perceptual information regarding product fit, feel, ride, performance, design and quality to our product creation teams throughout the product development cycle. A key part of this role is ownership of study participant recruitment and study design creation to ensure that results reflect truth with actionable suggestions for product optimization based on runner feedback. You will act as an information liaison between our multi-disciplinary product teams including Development, Design, Product Line Management and Merchandising to ensure the performance integrity of our product meets the needs and wants of runners. In this role, you will partner closely with more senior members of the Run Research Team to hone your technical product expertise and data analysis skillset.

Your Responsibilities: Own product assessment sample management, including receipt and distribution of all product testing samples. Collaborate with Development to review products upon receipt from factories, performing the necessary physical assessments to ensure the products are hitting their specific construction requirements before they are sent to runners for product evaluation.
  • Manage distribution of testing products across the United States to enable timely collection of data to meet key calendar dates in order to guarantee on-time product delivery to market.
  • Own participant recruitment, ensuring relevant and reliable testers are recruited for each product evaluation. Understand the product goals and objectives to ensure appropriate testers are selected to determine if the product goals are validated with the runner. Partner with Product Line Management teams to ensure project recruitment aligns with product consumer expectations.
  • Own product assessment for multiple products at the same time through multiple timelines and key calendar deadlines. Ensure all Brooks products are hitting key fit, feel, ride standards, and product brief goals.
  • Own the process of study design, ensuring the trial methodology and data analysis techniques are selected appropriately for each project to ensure that the final conclusions for each test reflect truth.
  • Own data analysis for product assessment. Use data science to gather qualitative and quantitative data from runners regarding their perception of fit, feel, ride and experience with the product.
  • Effectively synthesize data and translate these findings to a cross-functional team with a variety of backgrounds.
  • Own conclusion of fit, feel, ride and experience objectives validated through the runner used to make crucial decisions regarding manufacturing, development, and distribution of product. Partner with Product Development teams to ensure all products are hitting their fit, feel, and ride objectives. Provide your runner-driven product go, no go conclusions at seasonal scorecard product meetings with product teams.
  • Ensure on-time delivery of conclusions regarding fit, feel and ride validated through the runner in accordance with critical seasonal calendar deadlines to enable on-time delivery of product to the market.
  • Participate in meetings with product creation teams (Development, Product Line Management, Merchandising, Design) during various phases of the development and commercialization process to review current testing results for the latest models, objectives for upcoming products that require testing, and key deliverable dates to ensure testing results are distributed with enough time to take action, leading to on-time production confirmation.
  • Own wear test participant information updates in the Wear Test Database, including tester rating scores relating to their feedback and timeliness for surveys to ensure top-performing testers are used to evaluate Brooks products.
  • Manage wear test social media sites to stay connected with runners, involving them in the dialogue throughout the product creation process.
  • Conduct original and independent wear test research that drives product excellence for performance athletic product. Research should focus on innovative ways to connect with the runner, and analysis of perceptual feedback from thousands of runners, that lead to new directives for fit, feel, and ride that amplify the running experience.
  • Continuous learning of Brooks product development process, fit, feel, ride, and manufacturing best practices.
  • Keep abreast of market trends and consumer needs to ensure that products incorporate the functional needs of our runners.
  • Partner with more senior members of the Run Research Team to support their projects as needed.
  • Opportunities to mentor Run Research interns.
  • Other responsibilities as required.
Qualifications:
  • M.Sc. in Biomechanics, or related fields including Engineering, Kinesiology, Physiology, Exercise Science, Human Factors, or Ergonomics.
  • 3+ years of experience in the Athletic Footwear Industry in lieu of a graduate degree.
  • 1+ years experience in product creation or running retail desired.
  • Understanding of basic running shoe design features and components preferred.
  • Experience working in the technical running community, properly fitting runners for the correct footwear and apparel, evaluating how products fit and perform as well as general knowledge of the technical running marketplace.
  • Experience with data collection and study design, including collecting, recording, and analyzing perception data in an unbiased, objective manner.
  • Experience in presenting scientific principles to technical and non-technical groups to communicate the Brooks point of view.
  • Ability to work professionally and efficiently with all departments that make up Brooks Sports, Inc., including sales, marketing, production, and operations.
  • Proven ability to influence in a collaborative, cross-functional group to meet strategic objectives.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to plan, organize and execute tasks within short timelines are a must.
  • Detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task.
  • Cross collaboration skills are a must.
  • High level of independent work ethic and ability with the instinct to know when to reach out for support.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating effective listening through concise, clear verbal and written communication.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
  • Working experience with Tableau or other data visualization tools is ideal.
  • Curious and open-minded – be open to a challenge and always looking to improve our products and processes.
  • A positive attitude that embraces and lives the Brooks values!

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, the presence of a sensory, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military status, marital status, pregnancy or child birth, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, political ideology, or any other non-merit based factors.