Overview
As the Director of Global Apparel & Accessories Merchandising, you will establish the global direction for On’s Apparel and Accessories business, assuming full accountability for how the line is built and scaled, as well as how assortments are segmented and commercialized across various regions and channels. Your primary objective is to drive scalable commercial growth in Apparel and Accessories while solidifying On’s premium positioning in the activewear market.
This role positions you at the intersection of Product Strategy, Commercial, and Regional & Channel Merchandising. You will work within a collaborative framework alongside strong global leadership, empowering regions to execute with agility and relevance within evolving global contexts. As Apparel becomes an increasingly crucial growth pillar for On, your focus will be on building and scaling the category with clarity, discipline, and consumer impact.
Your Mission
- Global Strategy, Assortment Ownership & Operating Model:
- Define and evolve the global Apparel and Accessories Merchandising strategy, including channel roles, tiering, pricing logic, and seasonal depth.
- Lead and implement global merchandising strategies across DTC and Wholesale, aligned with On’s growth ambitions and long-term brand objectives.
- Oversee global assortment direction, collaborating closely with Regional Merchandising to achieve global consistency while honoring regional nuances.
- Act as the commercial voice upstream, influencing Product Strategy and Product Creation with insights rooted in consumer behavior, market knowledge, and commercial performance.
- Shape and continuously improve the global merchandising operating model, clarifying collaboration methods across Product, Commercial, and Regional teams as the business expands.
- Commercial & Financial Leadership:
- Lead global merchandise financial planning in partnership with Planning and Finance to drive SKU productivity, inventory efficiency, and profitable growth.
- Own the global pricing architecture for Apparel and Accessories, ensuring integrity while maximizing full-price sell-through.
- Utilize consumer, market, and performance data to inform both short-term initiatives and long-term category strategies, striking a balance between intuition and analytical rigor.
- Challenge complexity and enhance focus as assortments and the organization expand.
- Collaboration, Leadership & Capability Building:
- Work closely with Regional Merchandising teams to translate global strategies into local assortments while maintaining alignment on overarching global priorities.
- Collaborate with Marketing, Creative, and Visual Merchandising to ensure cohesive seasonal narratives and impactful execution across all consumer touchpoints.
- Build, lead, and enhance the global merchandising organization, elevating standards in strategic thinking, commercial discipline, and decision-making excellence.
- Develop team capabilities and leadership depth as the Apparel and Accessories business grows in complexity within On.
Your Story
- 10+ years of merchandising experience, especially in premium activewear and/or high-performance apparel environments.
- Proven track record of operating at scale within brands known for balancing desirability, performance credibility, and commercial discipline.
- Extensive international experience across regions such as EMEA, North America, and Asia-Pacific, with a deep understanding of regional consumer and channel variations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead global assortment decisions, establishing clear direction while collaborating effectively with regional teams.
- Strong commercial judgment with the confidence to make trade-offs and decisions amid uncertainty.
- In-depth understanding of retail mathematics and KPIs across retail, eCommerce, and wholesale channels.
- Experienced leader passionate about developing talent and improving standards within teams.
- Strong aesthetic sensibility and understanding of Visual Merchandising, enabling the creation of inspiring and commercially viable assortments.
- Strategic thinker comfortable working independently, setting direction, and translating concepts from strategy to execution.
- Exceptional communicator and presenter adept at influencing and aligning diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Fluency in English is essential; additional language skills are a plus.
Meet the Team
The Commercial team at On is dynamic and ambitious, embodying the energy of one of the fastest-growing sportswear brands. Here, we blend entrepreneurial spirit with the complexities that come with increasing scale. We require leaders who can build and refine systems while keeping the consumer at the heart of our initiatives. Together, we aim to ignite the human spirit through movement.
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.