Head of Color Design

Location: Zurich

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Product Design

In short

At On, color is more than an aesthetic choice—it is a strategic tool that connects emotion, performance, brand storytelling, and color trends. As Head of Color Design – Footwear, you will own and define the global color vision for On footwear, shaping the brand’s visual language across Lifestyle and Performance categories. Sitting at the intersection of creativity, science, and innovation, you will lead color strategy from long-range vision through seasonal execution. You will guide, inspire, and develop several sub-teams of color designers while working closely with Product Design, Apparel Color Design, Development, Merchandising, and Product Strategy to ensure a cohesive, consumer-led, and future-facing color expression. This is a leadership role with significant influence on brand identity, product success, and sustainability innovation.

Your Mission

Color Vision & Strategy

Define and own the long-term and seasonal color strategy for Footwear, ensuring alignment with On’s brand DNA, consumer insights, and commercial objectives.
Translate brand and product strategy into compelling color directions that balance innovation, consistency, and scalability.
Act as the key decision-maker for footwear color direction across categories and franchises.
Co-define seasonal color palettes together with the Head of App/ACC Color.

Consumer & Brand Storytelling

Leverage color as a storytelling and emotional driver, strengthening brand recognition and consumer connection.
Develop clear color narratives that support performance, lifestyle relevance, and merchandising clarity.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner closely with Apparel Color Design to ensure a cohesive, cross-category color expression.
Collaborate with Product Strategy, Footwear Design, Development, Merchandising, and Marketing to align color decisions with product intent, go-to-market strategies, and retail needs.
Influence stakeholders at all levels through a strong point of view, data-backed insights, and compelling presentations.

Trend Forecasting & Insight

Lead cultural, artistic, and technological trend research, translating macro insights into actionable, ownable color palettes.
Balance trend relevance with longevity and brand consistency.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of color designers, fostering a culture of creativity, curiosity, inclusion, and accountability.
Set clear direction, priorities, and standards while empowering designers to push boundaries.

Process, Tools & Excellence

Own and evolve the footwear color design process from concept through production.
Curate and maintain best-in-class digital and physical color libraries.Ensure clear briefs, efficient handovers, and strong collaboration with Zurich- and Vietnam-based teams.

Sustainability & Innovation

Champion sustainable color solutions by challenging conventional dyeing and finishing processes.
Partner with Development and Supply Chain to improve environmental impact, durability, and scalability of color applications.

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Your story

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Color Science, Material Design, Industrial Design, or a related discipline.
~10+ years of experience in color design within footwear or apparel, including significant leadership experience.
Proven ability to define and execute color strategy at a brand or category level.
Strong understanding of footwear manufacturing processes and technical constraints related to color application.
Demonstrated experience working with merchandising strategies, consumer insights, and data-driven assortment planning.
Advanced knowledge of color systems (Coloro, Pantone), Adobe Creative Suite, and PLM tools; familiarity with data tools (e.g. Looker) is a plus.
Passion for sustainability, innovation, and future-focused design solutions.
Confident, collaborative leader with the ability to influence across disciplines and cultures.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership.
Fluent in English (spoken and written); additional languages are a plus.

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About the Team

Our Color and Materials team is a key driver of On’s visual identity and sensory experience across all product categories. Bringing together expertise in color theory, material science, and cultural insight, the team works collaboratively to create distinctive, innovative, and commercially relevant design solutions. As Head of Color Design – Footwear, you will play a central role in connecting past, present, and future perspectives—elevating our products through thoughtful color leadership and inspiring the next generation of design excellence. If you are excited by the power of color, energized by leading creative teams, and motivated to shape the future of performance and lifestyle footwear, we’d love to hear from you.

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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.