Senior Run Performance Research Scientist

[Jennifer Baltich]

Come join the Run Research Team at Brooks!

Apply at Brooksrunning.com
brooksrunning.com - Senior Run Performance Research Scientist (lever.co)

Who We Are:

Brooks is a team of passionate people united by a desire to do meaningful work, lead healthy lives and make a difference. We share a focused mission: to inspire everyone to run their path to a better self. That’s it. No distractions—it’s all about the run. Through science, creativity, service, authenticity and connection, we obsess over delivering the best running gear on the planet. We do it our way, with our unique spirit, with a goal of being more relevant to runners than any other brand, day after day and mile after mile. We are determined to innovate, challenging ourselves to lead thought at every turn. Inside these walls and on the roads, tracks and trails, we live and breathe Run Happy, celebrating the positive impact running has on our lives and others. We inject it into all we do because it makes everything better, smarter, more fun and more memorable. Our company culture defines us, bonds us together and creates the conditions for success. It is lived daily as a behavioral expression of our collective set of brand values: Serve People, Lead Thought, Play As a Team, Compete Every Day, Demonstrate Integrity, Have Fun and Be Active. If you’re on our team, it means you’re part of creating something extraordinary. You’re part of Brooks.


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 Senior Run Performance Research Scientist will lead the evaluation of human movement and the interaction of the human with product on the run. In this role, you will use your advanced knowledge of running biomechanics and scientific methods to create and execute research programs aligned with the brand initiatives. You will collaborate with product teams across the company, including inline and innovation footwear. You will be the resident expert regarding human performance and running injury prevention through technical performance products. You will be responsible for generating ideas grounded in scientific principles that improve data collection, data analysis and data visualization that advance our product performance and value. Using your research findings, you will identify opportunities and provide recommendations to leadership to continuously innovate our product technology to align with the business roadmap and meet company objectives.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead Brooks’ human performance research programs that lead to new insights and technologies to improve product performance. These programs relate to inline and innovation footwear creation. Lead project management of owned research projects across multiple business objectives, utilizing project management tools to track project development, tasks, deadlines, and budgets.

• Lead human performance research projects with external academic collaborators that align with the Brooks vision and strategic business objectives, innovating for the runner.
• Possess a mastered understanding of study design with the ability to teach and guide junior team members which design will ensure that final conclusions reflect truth.
• Lead advancements in data collection and data analysis (hardware and software) opportunities that will advance the ability to evaluate human performance data. Drive initiatives that take the human performance data collection out of the laboratory and onto the road with the runner.
• Lead and manage original research projects that relate to human performance, independent of product. Combine these learnings with key business partners to drive business decisions for future opportunities.

• Initiate and lead meetings with the functional managers of product creation teams (Development, Product Line Management, Merchandising, Design, Engineering and Color) during various phases of the product development process to ensure alignment of projects, discuss impacts of research findings and how they impact current and future iterations of a product, and key upcoming calendar dates for future iterations of product.
• Effective translation of research project findings and project status updates to Senior Level Executives (Director, VP, SVP). Provide articulate, persuasive, and actionable conclusions with recommendations for next steps and how projects will drive a positive business impact.

• Understands the Brooks point of view as it relates to the entire brand as well as the competitive market.

• Teach, train and present scientific principles related to biomechanics and human movement and their relationship to product. Present to technical and non-technical groups, clearly communicating 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.
• Identify opportunities in the market based on trends and consumer needs related to biomechanics and human movement that will give Brooks a competitive advantage.
• Lead and manage the technical performance evolution of Run Signature, our concept of identifying the unique and highly individual characteristics of each runner.
• Own conclusion regarding the influence of product on human performance. Provide a clear point of view on optimal human movement and how it relates to product. Anticipate downstream effects of decisions, presenting potential solutions and expert recommendations for product optimization for human performance.
• Display an expert understanding of biomechanics and human movement and the interaction with performance athletic product. Partner with senior product creation team members to identify collaborative opportunities between development and Run Research, creating prototypes for new and innovative concepts unlike anything else on the market.
• May manage up to 1 direct report, instilling in them the ability to challenge the status quo, think outside the box, and translate research findings and concepts into tangible and actionable product suggestions.
• May manage run performance research for a given program (future of run signature, product optimization, etc.).
• Network with industry leaders and participate in key industry functions to communicate Brooks’ points of view that help shape the current thinking of running biomechanics. Opportunities to present at national and international conferences.
• Other responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. with a background in biomechanics, kinesiology, engineering 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 or Bachelors and 7+ years)
• 3+ years 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).
• 1+ year experience managing direct reports desired.
• Expert understanding of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics of running, biomechanical principles and experimental design and statistical methods with an understanding of performance and injury mechanisms for running.
• 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 running biomechanics related to product.
• 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.
• Advanced understanding of running shoe design features and components and how they influence biomechanics and human movement required.
• Expert working with human subject data collection (3D motion capture, kinematic and kinetic models, EMG, plantar pressure systems, metabolic cart) required.
• Significant experience with coding languages (MATLAB, Python, etc.)
• 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.
• Detail oriented. Strong organizational and time management skills are a must.
• Significant experience in programs to prep, blend, analyze, and visualize perception data (e.g., MATLAB, Alteryx, Tableau, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast paced, changing environment, anticipating and resolving problems in a timely manner.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an advanced ability to communicate a point of view concisely and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
• Expert MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access skills are required as well as experience working with PDM or other databases.
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!

Brooks Sports, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and our policy is to maintain employment practices that conform to the intent and letter of the laws regarding equal employment opportunity. Brooks is committed to affording equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual preference, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws or regulations. This commitment applies to all phases of the recruitment process including hiring, selection, promotions, transfers, demotions, compensation, benefits, or training. Brooks will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue business hardship or a direct threat to the health or safety of any individual.