Senior Lead - Sustainability Design / Senior Leadess - Sustainability Design

In Short

As our Senior Lead - Sustainability Design, you will be a strategic driver working at the intersection of sustainability and design. Your mission is to weave sustainability deeply into our design processes, making it not just a feature but a foundational element of our design ethos. This is not merely a design role; it is a cross-functional leadership position, shaping how we design rather than what we design. You'll collaborate closely with counterparts in product strategy, development, and innovation to ensure sustainability is a core principle integrated from concept to shelf.

Your Mission

• Lead impact mapping across footwear, apparel, and accessories while collaborating with cross-functional teams to embed principles of design for circularity and sustainability into all product designs.
• Translate strategy into a clear roadmap for the team by connecting the dots across innovation, strategy, design, development, and sourcing—whether through circular design principles, alternative dyeing methods, or identifying synergies between teams.
• Collaborate closely with product strategy and sustainability teams to act as a key enabler and consultant, guiding the prioritization of design decisions and initiatives that deliver the highest positive environmental impact.
• Shepherd early-stage sustainable innovations from the Sustainability Concept into the Design team, helping translate new ideas and technologies, ensuring feasibility and adoption.
• Build strong connections to and coordinate with the material teams to research, validate, and roll out low-impact materials, leveraging your deep knowledge of materials from selection through implementation.
• Partner with color design to implement impactful practices, such as dope dyeing and thoughtful palette building, that reduce environmental impact without compromising aesthetics.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to validate low-impact materials and production methods, ensuring these choices align with circularity goals from concept through production.
• Educate and inspire the design team through workshops and ongoing training, sharing best practices and keeping the team updated on the latest trends and innovations in sustainable design.
• Track and promote progress by championing circular initiatives during design reviews and internal events, regularly sharing updates and insights with the Sustainability team to drive momentum and alignment.

Your Story

• A strong and diverse educational background in design and impact sciences, such as environmental sciences or sustainability management.
• A deep understanding of materials and processes and their impact on life cycle assessments and other metrics measuring sustainability.
• A proven track record of leading design teams towards successful implementation of sustainability initiatives, achieving significant environmental impact reductions.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of inspiring teams and influencing external partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders, aligning short-term actions with long-term sustainability goals.
• A proactive nature with an entrepreneurial spirit, thriving in ambiguity and turning uncertainty into clear direction for sustainable design.
• Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
• A visionary thinker with a practical project-management mindset, known for converting innovative, sustainable solutions into tangible practices and transforming industry norms.

About the Team

You’ll be part of a vibrant and diverse Design Studio that drives On’s disruptive product design across footwear, apparel, accessories, design direction, and innovation. You will collaborate cross-functionally with concept and innovation designers, material experts, color specialists, product developers, and go-to-market teams, acting as the connective tissue in a culture that values creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.