Senior Lead - Footwear Materials

On

IN SHORT: Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. We’re responsible for ensuring every On product meets the highest quality standards and delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world insight. Through rigorous testing and validation, only products that truly perform make it to market. As a Footwear Testing Senior Lead you will be responsible for validating footwear products from development through to market and driving excellence and leading the team in the Running category. You’ll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and act as a key partner across Design, Development, Materials, Product Strategy and Sports Science to ensure excellence in fit, comfort, durability, and performance.   YOUR MISSION: * Lead a high-performing team of Specialists, fostering a culture of growth and exploration while elevating existing, successful workflows.  * Serve as a senior point of contact for internal stakeholders in the Run category, providing guidance and alignment on testing projects. * Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, owning end to end processes for assigned projects  * Define and execute rigorous testing strategies across durability, fit, comfort, and performance,  taking charge of high-complexity testing programs.   * Lead qualitative and quantitative footwear testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure products reflect authentic athlete and consumer needs. * Build and maintain strategic partnerships to integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into standardized, evidence-based product evaluations. * Translate complex testing data into powerful insights and clear reports that enable confident decision-making and elevate product excellence across the organization.  * Ensure testing timelines are efficient and seamlessly integrated into the fast-moving Product Creation calendars. * Expand and cultivate a diverse tester network to support project timelines and enhance community engagement.  * Work seamlessly with  testing systems and databases to ensure accurate & high-quality data integrity. * As a leader you will significantly contribute to team goals and process improvements.    YOUR STORY: * 8+ years of experience in footwear testing or a closely related role within the footwear industry * A strong passion for run culture and performance running footwear. * Proven leadership experience, with a passion for building high-performance teams * Ability to influence cross-functional team effectiveness through partnership & advisory * Excellent communication skills and confidence in working with cross-functional stakeholders. * A detail-oriented, creative, and solutions-focused mindset. * Flexibility to work outside standard hours when necessary. * Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint & capable of adapting to internal databases  * Analysis expertise with complex data and analysis methods  * Fluent in English (written and spoken).   YOUR TEAM: We’re a team responsible for making sure that the products for On represent the highest quality & performance standards. We have a lot of responsibility to meet the needs and demands of our customers. So we analyse, test and validate our products in the most comprehensive manner. Only products that pass our rigorous tests ever go to market.   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.

On

In short As the Head of Strategy & Operations, you are the architect of Footwear Creation's operating model. You will translate On's 2030 Long Range Plan into executable transformation- driving the strategic initiatives, processes, and systems that enable our team to deliver breakthrough footwear with Swiss-engineered precision. Sitting at the intersection of Development, Engineering, Materials, and Sustainability, you will influence leaders across functions, build organizational excitement for new ways of working, and make decisive calls on initiative prioritization and execution. Your mission: own the LRP initiative portfolio, orchestrate the leadership operating rhythm, and deliver measurable transformation that elevates how we create. Your mission STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & VISION (LRP TO ACTION) * Architect the Roadmap: Translate On’s 2030 LRP and annual goals into a multi-year strategic roadmap for Footwear Product Creation * Strategic Prioritization: Act as the Creation gatekeeper for the footwear portfolio, ensuring technical breakthroughs are sequenced and resourced for maximum commercial impact. PORTFOLIO STRATEGY & OPERATING RHYTHM * Own seasonal range portfolio planning: capacity modeling, resource allocation, project prioritization * Design and manage the Footwear Creation operating rhythm: weekly leadership standups, monthly business reviews, quarterly strategic planning * Facilitate high-stakes leadership discussions; Own the agendas, pre-reads, drive decisions and follow-through for all leadership forums * Serve as the primary coordination point between Creation and cross-functional partners (Innovation, Sourcing, Brand, Supply Chain) * Build portfolio dashboards that give leadership real-time visibility into capacity, progress, risks, and trade-offs. PROCESS EXCELLENCE & TRANSFORMATION * Lead strategic initiatives to improve creation velocity: stage-gate optimization, systems integration, capacity planning frameworks * Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies; challenge any workflow that doesn't add value * Drive adoption of new ways of working through clear metrics, change management, and feedback loops * Build a high-accountability, fast-decision culture within the Creation leadership team. CHANGE MANAGEMENT & ADOPTION EXCELLENCE * Drive adoption of new initiatives through comprehensive change management: communication strategies, training programs, adoption metrics, feedback mechanisms * Build organizational excitement and understanding of the strategic rationale behind transformational changes * Navigate politics and complexity to drive decisions and unblock progress * Hold partners accountable to commitments- even when they don't report to you * Monitor leading indicators of adoption; implement course corrections when resistance or confusion emerges * Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within Footwear Creation. YOUR STORY * Experience: 10+ years of leadership in Product Strategy, Program Management, or Footwear Creation, with a proven track record of translating corporate strategy into actionable cross-functional initiatives * Operational Rigor: Exceptional executive facilitation skills; you are comfortable holding senior stakeholders accountable and running high-stakes leadership rhythms * Influence without authority: You've led initiatives where success required getting leaders who don't report to you to change how they work. You have low self orientation * Footwear Acumen: Deep understanding of the end-to-end product creation lifecycle- from innovation and engineering to global manufacturing * Data-Driven Mindset: Exceptional analytical and visualization skills; you can turn complex project data into clear insights for executive decision-making * Transformation Leader: Experience leading organizational change, including "Future State" org design and the implementation of new operating models * Communication: A natural storyteller, capable of inspiring large teams on stage and navigating complex cross-functional partnerships * Passion: An undeniable drive for sports, footwear technology, and Swiss-engineered innovation. Why This Matters On is scaling fast. Footwear Creation needs to evolve- not just work harder, but work smarter. We need new systems, new processes, new ways of collaborating. We need someone who can drive that transformation across a complex, cross-functional organization. You won't build the products. But you'll build the operating model, the systems, and the culture that enable products and brand initiatives to be adopted and built with excellence, at speed, at scale. If you're the kind of transformation leader who thrives on complexity, who knows how to influence without authority, who can make tough calls and drive change that sticks- this is your role. Meet The Team Our mission is to define and create the future of sportswear bringing to life groundbreaking innovations. Acting at the forefront of material science, sport science and engineering we develop products that push the boundaries of performance and sustainability, blending in unique aesthetic appeal that embodies On’s design DNA. 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.

On

IN SHORT At On, the secret to our signature cloud-like sensation starts from the inside out. The last is the very foundation of our footwear, dictating fit, performance, and aesthetic. We are seeking a visionary Senior Lead Last Engineer to pioneer the creation, optimization, and management of our footwear lasts across all product categories. In this pivotal role, you will bridge the gap between biomechanics, design, and manufacturing. You will serve as the central authority on all last-related topics, ensuring our performance running, fashion, and lifestyle shoes deliver the ultimate fit and experience for our global community. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Standardization & Consolidation: Establish clear standards and best practices for all new last creations. Champion the implementation of these guidelines across internal teams and suppliers to strategically consolidate and optimize our existing last library. * Last Creation & Internal Consulting: Lead the hands-on creation of new lasts while acting as the primary technical consultant for Design, Development, and Innovation teams regarding last grading, selection, and fit optimization for new and existing projects. * Supplier Relationship Management: Build and manage strong, collaborative relationships with external last suppliers and manufacturers to ensure quality, precision, and timely delivery. * Library Management: Own and meticulously maintain our comprehensive digital and physical last libraries, ensuring all data is accurate, organized, and easily accessible to cross-functional teams. * Sourcing & Production Support: Partner with the Sourcing and Manufacturing teams to resolve technical last challenges, streamline production processes, and provide expert guidance on last-related topics at the factory level. * Process Innovation: Continuously evaluate and improve our last development workflows, integrating the latest 3D modeling technologies and fit-data insights. REQUIREMENTS * Comprehensive Last Modeling Expertise: 8 years+ hands-on experience in last engineering across both high-performance running and fashion/lifestyle footwear. You must possess a deep understanding of dynamic fit, foot anatomy, and biomechanics, while also knowing how to balance complex aesthetic requirements with commercial fit standards. * Program & Library Management: Proven experience managing comprehensive last development programs for a sports or performance footwear brand. Must possess exceptional organizational skills to build, consolidate, and seamlessly manage extensive digital and physical last libraries while juggling multiple development calendars from concept to mass production. * Manufacturing Equipment Operation: Practical ability to utilize physical last manufacturing and digitizing equipment, specifically 3D scanners and milling machines, to create, reverse-engineer, and modify physical models. * Technical & CAD Proficiency: Advanced skills in 3D CAD software relevant to last design and modification (e.g., Romans CAD, Rhino, or similar footwear-specific engineering tools). * Industry Knowledge: Extensive understanding of footwear manufacturing processes, tooling, and grading principles. * Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage extensive digital and physical libraries and juggle multiple development calendars simultaneously. * Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and external suppliers. ABOUT THE TEAM The Footwear Engineering team is a highly specialized collective of Pattern Engineers, Tooling Engineers, and Last Engineers who hold the keys to the ultimate fit, feel, and ride of every On shoe. Rooted in our proud heritage of meticulous Swiss engineering, we obsess over every millimeter and material to craft the absolute best performance products for elite athletes and everyday consumers alike. We are the critical bridge between radical design and physical reality, working in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where data-driven precision fuels our relentless dedication to human movement.