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In short

The Head of Footwear Development will be a strategic leader and visionary, with a passion for sport and a deep understanding of the needs of athletes and the creation of world class sports footwear. You are responsible for the creation, prioritisation, and completion of short to long term project plans that fuel the footwear pipeline with aspirational and innovative products. You have the ability to translate brand strategy into a clear seasonal business strategy and ensure seamless collaboration between Creative, Technical, Design, Product Strategy, Sourcing & Production teams.

Your Mission

  • Develop and implement a vision for footwear development that aligns with the company's overall strategy and goals.
  • Lead, coach and provide constant feedback to a team of developers who use consumer and market insight to create technically sound footwear ranges that are delivered on time and to the highest standards.
  • Collaborate with athletes, sports scientists, sports enthusiasts and product testers to understand the needs of all performers and incorporate their feedback into product development.
  • Take ownership for the entire development process for all footwear products with an emphasis on quality product development and timely completion of all tasks in accordance with the applicable product creation calendar and budget requirements.
  • Translate and drive new and innovative footwear designs, components, processes, into manufacturable, marketable and commercially viable finished products. 
  • Create project roadmaps, clear deliverables and reporting cadences
  • Maintain project documentation and reporting to key stakeholders, participate in milestone reviews, present new opportunities.
  • Establish and nurture relationships with all key vendors Stay abreast of industry trends, technologies, and materials, and incorporate them into new product designs.
  • Work closely with the product strategy team to ensure product launch strategies are fully considered and executed.
  • Keep an eye on the competition and market trends to ensure that our products are competitive and meet consumer needs.
  • Monitor product performance and customer feedback, making adjustments as necessary to improve product quality and customer happiness.
Group of girls smiling
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera

Your story

  • Bachelor's degree in industrial design, engineering, or a related field. Minimum of 10 years of experience in the performance footwear industry, with at least 5 years of experience in a leadership role.
  • An entrepreneurial and open mindset, an eagerness for differentiation and a natural push for excellence
  • Expert knowledge in the product development and design process (footwear construction, technology, calendars, project management, textile manufacturing, material construction, sourcing etc.)
  • Ability to lead a cross-functional team, managing several projects in various stages, towards a vision through effective collaboration
  • Strong communication, presentation, and project management skills.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Passion for sport and understanding of athlete needs.
  • Experience working with athletes and sports teams is a plus.
  • Strong understanding of costing principles and ability to negotiate with vendors as required
  • Technology and systems fluency
  • Language Skills: Fluency in English
  • This position is based in Zurich Switzerland, with regular travel to Asia
A woman smiling

About the Team

We are an innovative, creative and science-driven team working closely to convert cutting-edge ideas into prototypes and exceptional performance products. High quality and performance are top of mind when creating our footwear products. Our team combines the best experts in fields such as Engineering, Development and Product Management to create something extraordinary.

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A man smiling to the camera whilst working on a shoe
A man smiling to the camera whilst working on a shoe

Explorer

Explorer

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Successful creation is all about thinking differently. We celebrate crazy ideas and face challenges head-on to shape better, more innovative products and inspire a better brand.

Learn about our Spirits
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Ernest

Footwear Development, Ho Chi Minh City

Unlike other brands, we aren't just executioners out here in Vietnam, we give ideas as well. Sometimes they have a new idea in Zurich and we might find a process to make it more efficient and we share that.
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What we offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose. On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Build the better you

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.