In short

The Head of Apparel Development leads and represents Apparel Product Development within the product creation triad that includes Design, Product Management and Development. It delivers the long term apparel development strategy and product excellence and is committed to our athletes and consumers to delivering game changing innovation by building cohesive teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals, driving inclusive performance management, rewards and recognition.

Your Mission

  • Co-create (with the Head of Apparel Creation) the longterm apparel development vision and strategy that will ensure product excellence and a product that is pushing the needle for years to come.

  • Monitor and implement the latest in apparel and garment technology processes, workflow, equipment and software to ensure On’s cutting edge and industry leading position in the market

  • Champion (alongside the Apparel Engineering Lead) apparel fit and sizing initiatives to develop and improve coherent consumer experience across apparel categories

  • Partner closely with the Head of Technical Development to ensure all apparel products meet our On quality and garment testing standards

  • Collaborate with the Asian Costing & Sourcing organisation with existing product requirements and taking an active role in the introduction of new suppliers where necessary as well as being a key partner in driving the apparel supply chain of tomorrow

  • Drive and ensure a smooth coordination between different timelines across, inline, in-season and innovation

  • Represent product development on the product creation triad (Product Management, Design, Development) in driving On’s product vision, future growth strategies, diversity & inclusion and innovation

  • Leading the execution of product development from concept to manufacturing readiness

  • Lead, build, nurture and inspire the apparel development team by building a diverse talent pipeline, empowering and enabling through coaching, career development and creating an environment of belonging and well-being

  • Provide functional leadership and support to cross-functional teams in areas related to capacity planning, materials, garment construction, product commercialisation, engineering/costing, sustainability, QC and meeting all key calendar gates & dates

  • Build strong and profound business relationships with existing and new global suppliers

  • Ongoing evaluation of the departments processes and improving ways of working by setting clear procedures and guidelines, lean processes, distributing workloads evenly on teams and managing team capacities

Group of girls smiling
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera

Your story

  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in apparel development and manufacturing and working with wide array of global suppliers and manufacturers

  • Minimum 5 years’ experience leading teams with demonstrated leadership capability, including strong ability in develop diverse talent in a dynamic work environment

  • Proficient knowledge in product development and manufacturing - construction, materials, product creation life cycle, costing, digital product creation and product review meetings/fit sessions

  • Experience in working with designers and product creation teams on new apparel concepts, innovation thinking, strategy and problem solving

  • Highly developed verbal and written communication skills with ability to clearly articulate goals and objectives; apart from standard tool repertoire understanding the digital creation landscape and its softwares will be of high importance

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology from a global leading university or related field

  • High level of verbal and written English to be able to collaborate with diverse stakeholders

  • Highly attentive to detail and has the ability to build, organise, and create effective presentations and strategy documents

  • Able to balance creativity with organisation and discipline in a fast-paced environment

  • Very strong interpersonal skills to maximise the productivity of the application team

Three On colleagues eating lunch together

About the Team

We are engineers that steer ideas into reality. Development is a mindset, not 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, execution and solution-oriented - guiding products with tight timelines and the highest possible product quality, both on the shelf and in use.

See more
A woman working on apparel & accessory product creation
A woman working on apparel & accessory product creation

Athlete

Athlete

Two women climbing a wide concrete staircase.

Performance is in our DNA. We channel the Athlete mindset to create for anyone who loves to move – precision-first products that deliver on quality, form and function to help our fans push limits and look good doing it.

Learn about our Spirits
A woman focussed on working with fabric on the table in front of her.

Sindy

Apparel Developer

We always look for better decisions, we always listen to people and listen to different colleagues. We listen, we digest, and we find the most suitable one for all the team and everybody benefits. That process makes us really innovative.
Happy women smiling and chatting in the office

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.

Build the better you

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.