A smiling woman walks up a spiral concrete staircase inside a building holding a light jacket and a smartphone, with blue chairs visible below.

Back to jobs

Senior Lead - Art Director (Brand Assets – Athlete & Editorial)

Location: Zurich

A man wearing a baseball cap, glasses, a light sweater and black shorts stands on a concrete stairwell holding a tablet under his arm and a glass while smiling and looking up.

Marketing

In short

We’re looking for a highly experienced and hands-on Senior Lead in Art Direction to shape On’s athlete storytelling and commercial editorial imagery within our Brand Assets team. Sitting within the group that powers On’s visual identity, you’ll create and define imagery that moves the brand forward—translating performance and lifestyle into compelling visual stories. From athlete campaigns to commercial editorial moments, you’ll lead high-impact projects that connect emotionally while serving clear brand and business needs. This role is about setting the standard through the work itself. You’ll own projects end-to-end, guiding visual direction across photography, film and emerging formats—ensuring every output is distinctive, elevated and unmistakably On.

Your Mission

Lead art direction across athlete storytelling and commercial editorial projects.
Translate strategy into strong, clear visual outputs across film, photography and motion.
Create athlete-first narratives that connect performance with culture and lifestyle.
Establish and apply visual and casting standards across all projects.
Own projects end-to-end—from concept and casting through shoot and final delivery.
Partner with production and external creatives to deliver work at the highest level.
Identify, brief and collaborate with external creative partners who align with On’s evolving visual aesthetic.
Contribute to the evolution of On’s identity through bold, thoughtful image-making.
Bring clarity, craft and consistency across all assigned touchpoints.

Two women in athletic clothing sit on a bench with takeaway coffee cups, smiling and chatting after a workout.

Your story

8+ years of experience in art direction within a global brand or agency.
A strong, unique portfolio spanning sport, lifestyle, fashion and culture with a clear eye for storytelling and craft.
Confident leading shoots end to end from casting and location to visual tone and final output.
Deep knowledge of digital storytelling, ecommerce content and omnichannel creative ecosystems.
Comfortable working across motion, film, CGI and new media formats and guiding teams through each.
Experienced in building and managing creative teams from hiring to feedback, career growth and performance development.
Adept at resource planning, workflow optimization and managing multiple projects at once.
Clear communicator and natural collaborator who knows how to balance creative ambition with business needs.
Comfortable leading through ambiguity, energized by pace and skilled at problem-solving with optimism.
Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Two women in activewear run outdoors, smiling, surrounded by greenery and other runners.

About the Team

You’ll be part of the Brand Assets team within the Brand Voice and Creative Studio. Our mission is to power On’s visual identity by creating, defining and elevating the imagery that moves the brand forward. We lead athlete, trade and e-commerce storytelling through clear visual and casting standards—delivering the assets, systems and guidance that ensure every expression of On is consistent, distinctive and unmistakably ours. Within this, your focus will be on athlete storytelling and commercial editorial image-making—capturing the intersection of performance and culture in a way that feels both authentic and aspirational.

Four people work on laptops around a high table in a glass meeting room, while another person walks by outside holding a drink.

Ann

Senior Director of Brand Studio

I think something that unites people here is the pace and the drive. The ambition is quite high in everything we do and when you bring these people together, you see the outcome can be multiplied. It's super impressive to see what happens when you put these creative teams together who really help each other grow.

Group of people sit and talk at curved concrete benches on a rooftop garden with a city skyline in the background.

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.