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Product Creation Academy - Operational Excellence Strategy

Location: Zurich

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Product Operations

In short

This is your chance to kickstart your career in the sportswear industry! Become part of On’s unique rotational development program — the Product Creation Academy. This 2 year journey is designed to develop you into a true functional expert with the potential to grow in our dynamic organization. You will embark on a specialized learning journey, with rotations designed to prepare you for a role in Operational Excellence Strategy - a team that works on exciting projects across the entire product organization for footwear, apparel & accessories. To top it off, you’ll receive personalized mentorship from one of our senior leaders, ensuring you make the most of this transformative experience. Are you ready to shape the future of the fastest growing sportswear company in the world? Dream On! The starting date for this program will be September 1st, 2026. Application period: Due to the expected high volume of applications, the role will be open for a limited time. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Your Mission

Over the course of the program, you will rotate through multiple connected teams across the product organization, building a deep understanding of how On develops and delivers premium performance products to athletes and consumers around the world. The program will prepare you for a role in the Operational Excellence Strategy team which:

Focuses on strategic and operational projects that enhance processes, ways of working and organizational effectiveness and ultimately improves how teams bring products to market
Co-develops solutions with teams including innovation, product strategy, design, development and sourcing (for footwear / apparel / accessories) to drive alignment across teams
Analyzes complex business challenges, syntheses insights and contributes to actionable recommendations

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Your story

Preferably you have an educational background in Business, Management, Strategy, Operations, Engineering, Economics or a related field.
You have 1–2 years of hands-on experience in analytics, consulting, product strategy, business development, or strategic roles gained through professional positions, internships, or academic projects in fast-paced business, transformation, or project-driven environments.
You enjoy solving complex problems and can break down ambiguous challenges into structured and actionable insights.
You are analytically minded and comfortable working with data, processes and cross-functional business topics.
You communicate clearly and confidently, and feel comfortable collaborating with both technical and non-technical teams.
You are curious, proactive and eager to learn, with a strong interest in how products are created and how organizations operate effectively at scale.
You thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy working across diverse teams and functions.
You bring a hands-on, ownership-driven mindset and are excited to contribute in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.
You communicate clearly and effectively and are fluent in English (written and spoken).
You have the right to work in Switzerland or the EU.
You are able to travel internationally on a regular basis.

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About the Team

The Product Creation teams are the ones who innovate, develop and design the next generation of products, materials, tools and processes to create what On stands for: being the most premium global sportswear brand, rooted in performance, design and sustainability, with the goal to ignite the human spirit through movement. The Operational Excellence team works across the entire product organization and partners across innovation, product strategy, design, development and sourcing to continuously evolve how products are created and brought to market. The team works on high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that shape processes, capabilities and ways of working across footwear, apparel and accessories.

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Dennis

Specialist, Apparel Product Manager

We’re at the heart of the action, helping out different people and teams across R&D and the wider business every day. There’s a learning curve, sure, but the variety of projects and topics we cover is unmatched.

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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.