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Head of Merchandising Planning, EMEA

Location: Zurich

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Sales

In short

As the Head of Merchandising Planning EMEA, you will be the strategic visionary leading our merchandising planning function across the region. You will architect the planning strategy that powers our commercial success, ensuring our product vision translates seamlessly into data-driven, highly accurate, and scalable financial and inventory plans. By building cutting-edge frameworks and leveraging advanced technologies, you will empower your team—including the Merchandising Planning Leads—to drive operational excellence. You are a key leadership partner, integrating planning insights into the broader Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy bridging the gap between global product intent and regional market reality, and aligning our multi-channel execution across Wholesale, Digital, and Retail.

Your Mission

Cross- Channel Stakeholder Leadership: Lead and manage cross-functional stakeholder relationships, acting as the key strategic partner to channel leaders and Sales Planning leaders across Wholesale, DtC-Ecom, and DtC-Retail to ensure unified commercial execution and end-2-end planning.
Strategic Frameworks: Set the overarching framework and define the ways of working for product level planning in Long Range Plan (LRP), pre-season planning, and in-season management & IBP cycle, ensuring robust real-time forecasts at the vertical, collection, and product franchise levels.
Forecasting Optimization: Increase forecast accuracy metrics and minimize missed sales opportunities. You will achieve this by smartly and swiftly translating sell-through trends and market insights into dynamic adjustments of plans and open-to-buy forecasts.
AI-Enabled Smart Planning: Champion the adoption and integration of AI and advanced data analytics into our planning processes to enable smart planning, optimize inventory flow, and enhance predictive decision-making capabilities across the region.
Team Leadership & Upskilling: Directly manage, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of Merchandising Planning Leads, fostering a culture of data-driven accountability and operational excellence.

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Your story

8+ years of progressive leadership experience in merchandise planning, forecasting, or commercial strategy, preferably within the footwear, sportswear, or fashion industries.
Strong technical acumen, with a deep understanding of data architecture and hands-on experience leveraging AI planning tools and advanced forecasting models to drive business results.
Proven track record of setting complex merchandising financial targets, managing multi-channel forecasting processes, and balancing financial, consumer, and operational considerations at a regional scale.
Exceptional stakeholder management and executive presence, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership globally and regionally.
An entrepreneurial mindset - you are comfortable navigating structured and unstructured planning challenges, leading teams through ambiguity, and acting autonomously to drive the business forward.
A positive attitude with outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills. Fluent in English (written and verbal), with additional languages considered a plus.

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About the Team

You will lead the EMEA Merchandising Planning team and work alongside key leadership functions across B2B sales, eCom and Retail, and demand planning with a clear focus on product lifecycle and profitability. In particular, you will partner with the Planning leaders across regional and global teams - Demand Planning, Sales Planning, DtC Buying & Planning, and Controlling teams. As your work is highly strategic and cross-functional, you will also partner closely with our Global Product, Merchandising, and Operations teams. Your team will consist of planning leads and specialists focussed on both footwear and apparel.

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Meina

Senior Director, Commercial

What sets us apart is our mindset of doing the right thing. Giving up the quick wins of today for the more meaningful, long-lasting benefits of tomorrow. True entrepreneurship means focusing on the bigger picture to make a lasting, positive impact.

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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.