Head of Footwear Sourcing Strategy

Location: Zurich

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Footwear Product Creation

In short

This role's mission is to bridge the gap between global sourcing and product development, ensuring sourcing is a strategic enabler from the outset. By fostering strong partnerships across Innovation, Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sustainability teams, you'll drive a learning culture that enhances quality and on-time delivery. Ultimately, your success hinges on delivering a sourcing roadmap that enables the flawless execution of our product portfolio, balancing cost, quality, and delivery objectives.

Your Mission

Strategic Alignment: Drive close collaboration between the sourcing organisation (primarily based in Vietnam) and the wider product organisation (based in Switzerland)
Integrate Sourcing Considerations: Ensure sourcing requirements are strategically embedded into the product roadmap, enabling all projects to be fully ‘sourcing ready’ by the time of product freeze
Stakeholder Management: Act as a strategic partner across cross-functional teams including Innovation, Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sustainability
Learning Culture: Embed a ‘learning culture & process’ within our product development process to structurally enhance quality & on-time delivery
Portfolio Execution: Deliver a sourcing roadmap that supports flawless execution of the product portfolio, balancing cost, quality, and delivery objectives

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Your story

8+ years of progressive experience in strategic footwear sourcing, production operations (apparel & accessories experience is a plus)
Product Development Acumen - strong understanding of the product development lifecycle, from concept to commercialisation, with a specific emphasis on the points of integration for sourcing, experience across upstream product strategy, innovation, product creation, and quality management
Strong ability to ‘connect the dots’ across functions, ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to changing priorities
Strong leadership skills to manage a portfolio of cross-functional projects
Strategic Thinking & Execution - proven ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans and drive their successful execution within a complex organisational structure
Cross-cultural Collaboration - experience working in a global organisation, demonstrated experience in fostering effective collaboration between geographically dispersed teams (e.g., Europe and Asia)
Stakeholder Management - exceptional ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse internal stakeholders at all levels, influencing outcomes and driving consensus
Continuous Improvement Mindset - experience in implementing continuous improvement methodologies and fostering a learning-oriented environment
Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills - strong analytical capabilities to evaluate complex trade-offs (cost, quality, delivery) and develop effective solutions, strong ability to synthesise, structure & simplify complex problems
Excellent Communication Skills - ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to various audiences; engaging, influencing and aligning with senior leaders

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About the Team

You will be part of the Product Organisation: The innovation engine that is responsible to design, develop & source innovative products.

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Ernest

Footwear Development, Ho Chi Minh City

Unlike other brands, we aren't just executioners out here in Vietnam, we give ideas as well. Sometimes they have a new idea in Zurich and we might find a process to make it more efficient and we share that.

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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.