In short

As On’s Global Head of Product Creation & Operations, you are responsible for leading our Product Creation (Materials, Engineering, Development, Testing) and Product Operations teams. You are a visionary product and people leader. You are excited for On’s product and technology potential, and you can inspire a diverse team of creative, strategic, technical and operational talents to innovate, collaborate and realize that potential. You have a solid understanding of P&L and bring expertise in operational excellence in R&D, and you do not settle for “industry standard” or “best practice”: you strive for innovation and next-level excellence, be it product engineering, manufacturing automation, product integrity and compliance, digital transformation, sustainability in products, or operational efficiency. In your role you will partner closely with Innovation, Design, Product Strategy, Sustainability, Sourcing, and Finance teams. You will report directly to On’s COO.

Your Mission

  • Lead all R&D Operation and Product Creation teams, across product categories and verticals and represent the functions towards product board and management board at On
  • Collaborate closely with Innovation, Product Strategy, Design, Sustainability and Sourcing teams, bring On’s product engine to the next level, in terms of performance, sustainability, digitisation, and efficiency
  • Nurture an extraordinary product creation and operations team, with a focus on team engagement and development, and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and inclusivity
  • As a key leader in On's extended leadership team, champion, safeguard and evolve On's unique culture, as we continue to grow and ignite more human spirits through movement
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

  • 15+ years of global leadership experience in high performing product creation / R&D organization, in consumer products industries
  • You’re native to a complex reporting organization, sitting in different geographic locations and across different product functions and categories, and you are both strategic and pragmatic, at designing and evolving a growing organization with high complexity
  • You are a strategic product leader, you are excited by On’s technology and performance focus, and commitment to make a positive impact on the planet, through our products; and you want to push On’s growth potential, by building a world-class product creation engine
  • You are a sharp business leader, with strong business acumen and natural instinct on how to drive operational excellence in R&D
  • You are a visionary people leader, your biggest passion is to inspire, coach, mentor and develop people and organizations
  • You are a natural connector with excellent communications skills, you build strong and meaningful relationships with internal and external team members and stakeholders
  • You have thorough understanding of product creation and manufacturing processes (especially in an OEM environment); deep insights on performance footwear, apparel and accessories preferred
  • You genuinely feel for the planet, and are keen to make a difference in sustainable product creation, knowing how difficult it is
  • You bring experience leading digital transformation, data governance and analytics
  • Academic background in Business Administration or product creation related field
  • This position is based in Zurich, Switzerland and our working language is English
Three On colleagues eating lunch together

About the Team

On’s product creation and operations team is innovative, creative, down-to-earth and enthusiastic about athlete and consumer needs. Our team works closely together to convert ideas and designs into prototypes and exceptional, high quality performance products. This team works closely with all R&D functions and beyond, and hosts expertise in materials, engineering, product development, quality and testing, R&D system and data, as well as R&D operations excellence.

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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

Woman playing ping pong in the office

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
A man in a black t-shirt with his hair tied up is standing and smiling

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.
Happy women smiling and chatting in the office

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.