Director of Product Testing

At On, we are obsessed with empowering human movement and delivering an unparalleled performance and sensory experience. We are

seeking a visionary Director of Product Testing to lead the evolution of our lab, transforming it from a traditional mechanical

testing center into a world-class hub for dynamic, consumer-centric, and subjective product validation. This is a pivotal

leadership role designed to infuse the voice of the athlete and the psychology of the consumer into the heart of our product

creation engine, ensuring every On product delivers on its promise of Swiss Engineering.

As the Director of Product Testing, you will be the architect of our future testing strategy. You will lead a talented team of

technical experts, guiding them beyond the 'what' of objective durability to the 'why' of subjective feel, comfort, and

performance. You will build and manage a new, independent lab function focused on fit, wear, and innovation, creating the

methodologies and environment necessary to capture honest, actionable consumer insights. Your leadership will be instrumental in

shifting our quality paradigm from reactionary analysis to preventative excellence, embedding quality and consumer obsession at

the very beginning of the product lifecycle.

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a forward-thinking strategy for product testing that prioritizes subjective,

consumer-focused feedback and psychological insights over traditional, objective mechanical testing.

• Team Development & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and upskill a team of technical testing experts. Foster a culture of trust,

stability, and high performance, coaching the team in the principles of consumer psychology and sensory analysis.

• Methodology Innovation: Design and implement novel testing frameworks, including dynamic focus groups and A/B testing

protocols, to scientifically evaluate subjective product attributes like comfort, fit, and the feeling of speed.

• Organizational Management & Alignment: Provide unified leadership and strategic direction to our global Product Testing

organization. You will manage and align our geographically distributed teams, including the durability and fit team based in

Asia and the consumer-centric testing team in Zurich. Your role is to harmonize these functions, ensuring our foundational

durability and fit standards are seamlessly integrated with the advanced athlete and consumer insights gathered from Zurich's

dynamic focus groups.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Development, Design, Quality Engineering, and Strategy teams to

ensure testing insights are integrated early in the design and manufacturing process, preventing issues before they arise.

• Technological Advancement: Champion the use of new technologies, including AI and automation, to empower the team, streamline

processes, and free up resources for more in-field, human-centric testing.

• Insight Synthesis: Translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into a clear, compelling narrative that informs critical

product decisions and reinforces our commitment to premium, consumer-obsessed products.

• A World-Class People Leader: You are a fantastic and experienced leader, known for your ability to cultivate trust, manage down

effectively, and develop the "superpowers" of your team members. Your primary passion is leading people, not just processes.

• Consumer-Obsessed: You have a deep-seated curiosity about consumer behavior and are driven to understand the psychology behind

their decisions and perceptions. You naturally put the consumer at the center of every decision.

• A Strategic Thinker with an Explorer's Spirit: You are not a traditional technical tester. You have a background that allows

you to approach testing in a new light, with an entrepreneurial mindset to challenge the status quo and explore new frontiers

in product validation.

• Psychologically Astute: You have a strong interest or formal background in psychology, consumer science, or a related field,

enabling you to build a scientifically rigorous approach to subjective testing.

• An Exceptional Communicator: You possess strong communication skills, capable of articulating a clear vision and providing

candid, constructive feedback to your team and stakeholders.

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role, with a strong track record of building and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience in a consumer-facing industry is essential; a background in sporting goods (footwear, apparel, accessories),

consumer electronics, or other premium product categories is highly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and transition.
• While not mandatory, a degree or advanced studies in Psychology, Kinesiology, Human Factors, or a related field is a

significant asset.

• Passion for sport, movement, and the On brand.

You'll be a leader in a global team fueled by a culture of relentless discovery. We test and validate our product promises,

transforming athlete feedback and scientific data into market-leading performance. While our creation partners work to make

products great, our mission is to prove they're great. Based in Zurich, our team is the ultimate destination for individuals

dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience.

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.