Overview
As the Head of Product Development at On, you will lead the global Product Development function across Apparel, setting the long-term vision and strategy for transforming creative ideas into best-in-class, performance-driven, and commercially successful products. You will be responsible for building and scaling the systems, teams, and partnerships that enable On to achieve technical excellence and long-term business impact, emphasizing margin achievement, sustainability, innovation integration, and team growth.
Your Mission
- Define and implement the long-term strategy for Apparel Product Development, ensuring alignment with 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 to create an environment conducive to sustainable, high-performance delivery.
- Drive cross-functional alignment across Product, Design, Innovation, Materials, Sourcing, and Operations to enable seamless, efficient, and forward-thinking product creation.
- Champion product execution that meets commercial readiness, margin, quality, and innovation goals within the apparel portfolio.
- Translate creative direction into executable product frameworks, ensuring collections are technically sound, fit-accurate, and financially viable while safeguarding 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.
- Serve as a strong commercial and technical voice at the leadership table, ensuring product development decisions are rooted in business reality while fostering creative ambition and future growth.
- Attract, develop, and retain top talent, building an inclusive, high-performing team culture that supports personal and professional growth.
- Foster the development of future leaders within the team through succession planning, mentoring, and coaching.
- Monitor industry, technology, and supply chain trends to keep the team and processes ahead of the curve, scalable, and future-ready.
- Encourage a culture of curiosity, accountability, and resilience, helping the team navigate ambiguity, scale with clarity, and collaborate 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, particularly in technical or performance-driven apparel.
- Deep understanding of fit engineering, construction, costing, manufacturing, and product lifecycle management.
- Experience leading organizations to meet or exceed sustainability and innovation targets, with a strong grasp of sustainable materials and supply chain practices.
- Inspirational people leader with a history of building and scaling teams and nurturing inclusive, values-driven cultures.
- Commercially savvy, with experience owning 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.
- Fluent in English; additional languages (particularly Mandarin or German) are a plus.
- Willingness to travel globally as needed to support team and supplier operations.
Meet the Team
We are engineers who turn ideas into reality. Development is a mindset, not just a department, and every team member is empowered to make decisions, understanding that failure is part of the learning process. As a fully integrated function in the design and briefing process, we focus on detail, execution, and solutions, guiding products with tight timelines and the highest possible quality on and off the shelf.
What We Offer
On is a place focused on growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools to develop holistically—staying active, learning, exploring, and innovating. Our unique approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care resources for both physical and mental well-being, allowing each person to be driven by 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 fostering a fair and inclusive work environment, where all recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions are made without discrimination.