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Head of Footwear Merchandising

Location: Portland

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In short

As the Head of Merchandising, Footwear, you will chart the strategic course for the footwear category across the Americas, ensuring product assortments align seamlessly with On’s premium brand vision and regional commercial needs. Reporting to the Director of Merchandising, AMER on the Americas Merchandising team, you will simplify regional complexity to drive a cohesive omnichannel strategy that captures market opportunities and powers brand love. This role is a critical pillar in balancing global product direction with regional execution to deliver high-impact results and foster a culture of excellence and innovation.

Your Mission

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive regional merchandising strategy for footwear that aligns with global product vision and regional commercial objectives across wholesale and DTC channels

  • Lead the seasonal assortment planning process, optimizing product segmentation, account differentiation, and lifecycle management to drive premium growth targets

  • Drive the regional go-to-market process by fostering tight alignment between global product teams, regional sales, and demand planning to ensure on-time delivery and forecast accuracy

  • Synthesize competitor analysis, consumer trends, and market dynamics to identify and act on growth opportunities unique to the Americas landscape

  • Collaborate with analytics teams to translate sales data and market research into actionable insights that refine product offerings and improve commercial outcomes

  • Track and analyze key performance indicators including sell-through rates, inventory turn, and margin health to optimize category performance

  • Mentor and develop a high-performing merchandising team, providing coaching that empowers individuals to own their professional growth and functional expertise

  • Partner across the matrix to bridge gaps between global strategy and local execution, ensuring the footwear category contributes to On’s overall strategic priorities

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    Your story

    • You bring 9+ years of experience in merchandising, product management, or retail buying within a premium global retailer in the footwear or apparel industry

    • You have 4+ years of experience leading merchandising teams in a high-growth environment, with a proven ability to manage regional scope and cross-functional complexity

    • Extensive expertise in managing footwear assortments within a vertically integrated or omnichannel brand, balancing central strategy with regional flexibility

    • Proven track record of achieving high-quality outcomes in margin management, assortment planning, and inventory turnover through data-informed decision-making

    • Expert analytical skills with the ability to navigate complex data sets and systems to identify underlying trends and root causes

    • Experience leveraging product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and BI platforms to optimize workflow and strategic planning

    • Masterful communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders and align outputs with broad organizational goals

    • Deep commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and championing sustainable practices within the product lifecycle

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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. We are requesting that you provide sensitive demographic information such as gender identity and race/ethnicity to help us ensure that we are creating equitable and fair experiences for all potential future team members. You are not required to provide this demographic information and this information will in no way impact your eligibility for hire.

    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.