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Head of Product Development (Lifestyle)
Location: Zurich
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In short
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 how we turn creative ideas into best-in-class, performance-driven, and commercially successful products. You’ll be responsible for building and scaling the systems, teams, and partnerships that enable On to deliver both technical excellence and long-term business impact - from margin achievement and sustainability, to innovation integration and team growth. This is a senior leadership role requiring a visionary mindset, deep product expertise, and strong organisational leadership. You will act as a key thought partner to Design, Product Management, Sourcing, and Innovation - translating On’s brand ambition into technical and scalable reality.
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 and creating the environment, tools, and structure needed for 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.
- Ensure commercial readiness and scalability of the apparel portfolio, championing product execution that meets margin, quality, and innovation goals.
- Translate creative direction into executable product frameworks, ensuring collections are technically sound, fit-accurate, and financially viable without compromising 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 and practices.
- Be a strong commercial and technical voice at the leadership table, ensuring product development decisions are rooted in business reality while enabling creative ambition and future growth.
- Attract, develop, and retain top talent, building an inclusive, high-performing team culture that supports personal and professional growth at all levels.
- Develop future leaders within the development team, with succession planning, mentoring, and coaching as part of the leadership DNA.
- Monitor industry, technology, and supply chain trends to ensure the team and processes remain ahead of the curve, scalable, and ready for the future.
- Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, and resilience, helping the team navigate ambiguity, scale with clarity, and collaborate with trust.
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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 in alignment with broader business or brand goals.
- Strong track record in translating creative design into high-quality, commercially successful products, especially within 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 understanding of sustainable materials, supply chain practices, and compliance standards.
- Inspirational people leader with a history of building and scaling teams, developing leaders, 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 with the ability to simplify complexity, foster alignment, and drive 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.
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.
About the Team video
Sindy
Apparel Developer
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.
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.