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Senior Specialist - Operational Excellence Strategy & Transformation

Location: Zurich

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Product Operations

In short

You will play an important role in helping On evolve how products are developed and brought to market. In this role, you will contribute to strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects that support On's long-term business priorities. Working closely with teams across the product organization, you will help improve processes, capabilities and ways of working that enable greater speed, effectiveness and quality across Footwear, Apparel and Accessories.

The Senior Specialist role will report to the Head of Strategy & Transformation - Operational Excellence.

Your Mission

Apply a strategic and analytical lens to problem-solving: Support the structuring of complex and often ambiguous business challenges. Break down problems into key questions, conduct analyses, synthesize findings and help identify practical recommendations that support On's strategic objectives.
Drive strategic initiatives and project work streams: Own and drive specific workstreams within cross-functional projects that support the evolution of the product organization’s processes, capabilities, technologies and ways of working. Help ensure projects are delivered with a high level of quality, rigor and stakeholder alignment.
Support cross-functional collaboration: Partner closely with stakeholders across innovation, product strategy, design, product development, sourcing, planning, commercial, and other functions. Help facilitate discussions, align perspectives and contribute to solutions that improve organizational effectiveness.
Contribute to key LRP priorities: Support the delivery of strategic initiatives that are critical to On's Long Range Plan (LRP), working across Footwear, Apparel and Accessories to help drive scalable and sustainable business impact.
Develop insights and recommendations: Translate data, analyses and stakeholder inputs into clear insights and recommendations. Create materials and narratives that support decision-making and help move initiatives forward.
Drive project governance and execution: Help establish transparency across projects through structured planning, milestone tracking, risk management and stakeholder communication, ensuring initiatives remain on track and aligned with business objectives.

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Your story

5+ years of experience in product strategy, operational excellence, business transformation, consulting or related fields.
Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Innovation Management, or a related field.
Footwear and/or apparel industry experience and/or experience in a strategy or consulting environment is a must.
Experience contributing to cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders and business functions.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure complex topics and derive actionable insights.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build productive working relationships across teams.
Comfortable working across a variety of topics, including process improvement, operating models, product creation and organizational effectiveness.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.
Passion for understanding and supporting On's vision and long-term business objectives.
Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

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About the Team

The Operational Excellence team is part of the product organization: an entrepreneurial, dynamic and talented group focused on evolving the product organization (innovation, product strategy, design, development, sourcing) to new levels of effectiveness and performance.

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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.