Head of Product Testing

At On, Product Testing is the voice of our consumers and athletes. It ensures that every product delivers a premium quality experience and meets the highest standards of excellence across footwear, apparel, and accessories. We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader who can elevate and expand our testing organization into a world-class, multi-category discipline.

This role is central to On’s mission of delivering Swiss-engineered performance and innovation. Based in our Zürich Lab, you will lead a global function that integrates testing as a strategic advantage - shaping product creation decisions, accelerating innovation, and safeguarding our reputation for excellence. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in biomechanics, materials science, product durability, and advanced testing methodologies. You will drive digital transformation through predictive analytics and data-led systems, while embedding testing at the heart of the product creation process. This is a high-impact leadership role that requires both technical depth and the ability to influence at the executive level across a global organisation.

• Define and lead the global product testing strategy across footwear, apparel, and accessories.
• Ensure that every product meets premium quality benchmarks and the highest standards of excellence.
• Build and scale a global testing ecosystem, including brand to factory calibration, external partnerships, and internal lab excellence.
• Modernise the testing experience with digital tools, predictive analytics, and data-driven insights that strengthen decision-making and speed to market.
• Establish and continuously evolve new lab standards and dynamic durability test methods that predict consumer and athlete usage.
• Partner closely with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, integrating learnings into creation and testing processes to reduce failure and improve consumer experience and happiness.
• Elevate testing into a strategic partner for product creation, ensuring excellence at every milestone.
• Shape and deliver the multi-category testing roadmap in alignment with On’s strategic priorities. Guide the team through complex, high-impact global initiatives. Act as the voice of quality and excellence in leadership discussions.
• Develop and validate advanced test methods with the sports science lab, including dynamic durability standards and new protocols tailored to athlete needs. Oversee rigorous global test programs to ensure durability, functionality, and consumer trust. Translate results into clear, actionable recommendations for design, development, and innovation.
• Partner with design, development, and innovation to embed testing early in the creation process. Drive synergies between footwear, apparel, and accessories testing to ensure consistency and scalability. Build strong networks of athletes and testers to reflect real-world performance needs.
• Work hand-in-hand with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, identify root causes of failure, and feed insights back into creation and testing processes. Use this data to continuously raise quality standards, reduce defects, and elevate the consumer experience.
• Lead the digital transformation of testing through platforms, dashboards, and predictive systems. Continuously improve reporting and communication so that insights accelerate decision-making without compromising quality.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, diverse & global team with a culture anchored in excellence and accountability. Foster global tester communities, elevating engagement and loyalty as a strategic differentiator.