In short
At On, we are obsessed with empowering human movement and delivering an unparalleled performance and sensory experience. We are seeking a visionary Director of Product Testing to lead the evolution of our lab, transforming it from a traditional mechanical testing center into a world-class hub for dynamic, consumer-centric, and subjective product validation. This is a pivotal leadership role designed to infuse the voice of the athlete and the psychology of the consumer into the heart of our product creation engine, ensuring every On product delivers on its promise of Swiss Engineering.
Your Mission
As the Director of Product Testing, you will be the architect of our future testing strategy. You will lead a talented team of technical experts, guiding them beyond the 'what' of objective durability to the 'why' of subjective feel, comfort, and performance. You will build and manage a new, independent lab function focused on fit, wear, and innovation, creating the methodologies and environment necessary to capture honest, actionable consumer insights. Your leadership will be instrumental in shifting our quality paradigm from reactionary analysis to preventative excellence, embedding quality and consumer obsession at the very beginning of the product lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a forward-thinking strategy for product testing that prioritizes subjective, consumer-focused feedback and psychological insights over traditional, objective mechanical testing.
- Team Development & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and upskill a team of technical testing experts. Foster a culture of trust, stability, and high performance, coaching the team in the principles of consumer psychology and sensory analysis.
- Methodology Innovation: Design and implement novel testing frameworks, including dynamic focus groups and A/B testing protocols, to scientifically evaluate subjective product attributes like comfort, fit, and the feeling of speed.
- Organizational Management & Alignment: Provide unified leadership and strategic direction to our global Product Testing organization. You will manage and align our geographically distributed teams, including the durability and fit team based in Asia and the consumer-centric testing team in Zurich. Your role is to harmonize these functions, ensuring our foundational durability and fit standards are seamlessly integrated with the advanced athlete and consumer insights gathered from Zurich's dynamic focus groups.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Development, Design, Quality Engineering, and Strategy teams to ensure testing insights are integrated early in the design and manufacturing process, preventing issues before they arise.
- Technological Advancement: Champion the use of new technologies, including AI and automation, to empower the team, streamline processes, and free up resources for more in-field, human-centric testing.
- Insight Synthesis: Translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into a clear, compelling narrative that informs critical product decisions and reinforces our commitment to premium, consumer-obsessed products.
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Your story
- A World-Class People Leader: You are a fantastic and experienced leader, known for your ability to cultivate trust, manage down effectively, and develop the "superpowers" of your team members. Your primary passion is leading people, not just processes.
- Consumer-Obsessed: You have a deep-seated curiosity about consumer behavior and are driven to understand the psychology behind their decisions and perceptions. You naturally put the consumer at the center of every decision.
- A Strategic Thinker with an Explorer's Spirit: You are not a traditional technical tester. You have a background that allows you to approach testing in a new light, with an entrepreneurial mindset to challenge the status quo and explore new frontiers in product validation.
- Psychologically Astute: You have a strong interest or formal background in psychology, consumer science, or a related field, enabling you to build a scientifically rigorous approach to subjective testing.
- An Exceptional Communicator: You possess strong communication skills, capable of articulating a clear vision and providing candid, constructive feedback to your team and stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in a senior leadership role, with a strong track record of building and developing high-performing teams.
- Experience in a consumer-facing industry is essential; a background in sporting goods (footwear, apparel, accessories), consumer electronics, or other premium product categories is highly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and transition. While not mandatory, a degree or advanced studies in Psychology, Kinesiology, Human Factors, or a related field is a significant asset.
- Passion for sport, movement, and the On brand.
About the Team
You'll be a leader in a global team fueled by a culture of relentless discovery. We test and validate our product promises, transforming athlete feedback and scientific data into market-leading performance. While our creation partners work to make products great, our mission is to prove they're great. Based in Zurich, our team is the ultimate destination for individuals dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience.
About the Team video
Ernest
Footwear Development, Ho Chi Minh City
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.