In Short
As the Head of Product Development at On, you will lead the global Product Development function focused on Apparel, setting the long-term vision and strategy to transform creative ideas into best-in-class, performance-driven, and commercially successful products. You will be accountable for building and scaling the systems, teams, and partnerships essential for On to deliver not only technical excellence but also long-term business impact—ranging from margin achievement and sustainability to innovation integration and team growth.
This senior leadership role requires a visionary mindset, deep product expertise, and robust organizational leadership. You will serve as a key thought partner to Design, Product Management, Sourcing, and Innovation, translating On’s brand ambitions into a technical and scalable reality.
Your Mission
- Define and implement the long-term strategy for Apparel Product Development, ensuring alignment with the brand vision, business goals, and product creation needs across categories and collections.
- Lead and evolve the global Apparel Development team, overseeing multiple layers of leadership, and creating the environment, tools, and structure necessary for sustainable, high-performance delivery.
- Drive cross-functional alignment across Product, Design, Innovation, Materials, Sourcing, and Operations to facilitate seamless, efficient, and forward-thinking product creation.
- Ensure commercial readiness and scalability of the apparel portfolio, championing product execution that meets margin, quality, and innovation goals.
- Translate creative direction into executable product frameworks, ensuring collections are technically sound, fit-accurate, and financially viable without compromising brand identity.
- Own the execution of On’s sustainability targets within Product Development, embedding circular design principles, sustainable material usage, and responsible construction methods into processes and practices.
- Serve as a strong commercial and technical voice at the leadership table, ensuring product development decisions are grounded in business realities while enabling creative ambitions and future growth.
- Attract, develop, and retain top talent, fostering an inclusive, high-performing team culture that supports personal and professional growth at all levels.
- Develop future leaders within the development team, integrating succession planning, mentoring, and coaching as part of the leadership DNA.
- Monitor industry, technology, and supply chain trends to ensure the team and processes remain ahead of the curve and ready for future challenges.
- Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, and resilience, assisting the team in navigating ambiguity, scaling with clarity, and collaborating with trust.
Your Story
- 14+ years of experience in apparel product development, with significant time spent in senior leadership roles overseeing multi-category or global teams.
- Proven success in building and implementing long-term product and team strategies aligned with broader business or brand goals.
- Strong track record in translating creative design into high-quality, commercially successful products, especially in technical or performance-driven apparel.
- Deep understanding of fit engineering, construction, costing, manufacturing, and product lifecycle management.
- Experience leading organizations to meet sustainability and innovation targets, with a solid understanding of sustainable materials, supply chain practices, and compliance standards.
- Inspirational leader with a history of building and scaling teams, developing leaders, and nurturing inclusive, values-driven cultures.
- Commercially savvy, with experience managing margin targets and development strategies across multiple seasons and categories.
- Skilled cross-functional collaborator with the ability to influence at all levels—from tactical execution to executive strategy.
- Strong communicator capable of simplifying complexity, fostering alignment, and driving organizational clarity.
- Fluency in English; additional languages (particularly Mandarin or German) are a plus.
- Willingness to travel globally as required to support team and supplier operations.
Meet the Team
We are engineers who transform ideas into reality. Development is a mindset, not merely a department—and every team member is empowered to make decisions with the understanding that failure is part of the learning process. As an integrated function in the design and briefing process, we are detail-oriented, execution-focused, and solution-driven—guiding products through tight timelines while ensuring the highest possible quality, both on the shelf and in use.
What We Offer
On fosters a culture centered around growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically—encouraging them to stay active, learn, explore, and innovate. Our unique approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care, promoting both physical and mental well-being, allowing each person to work from a place of purpose.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
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.