On Head of Product Development (Lifestyle)

As the Head of Product Development at On, you will lead the global Product Development function across Apparel, setting the long-term vision and strategy for how we turn creative ideas into best-in-class, performance-driven, and commercially successful products. You’ll be responsible for building and scaling the systems, teams, and partnerships that enable On to deliver both technical excellence and long-term business impact - from margin achievement and sustainability, to innovation integration and team growth. This is a senior leadership role requiring a visionary mindset, deep product expertise, and strong organisational leadership. You will act as a key thought partner to Design, Product Management, Sourcing, and Innovation - translating On’s brand ambition into technical and scalable reality.

Your Mission

• Define and implement the long-term strategy for Apparel Product Development- ensuring alignment with brand vision, business goals, and product creation needs across categories and collections.
• Lead and evolve the global Apparel Development team, overseeing multiple layers of leadership and creating the environment, tools, and structure needed for sustainable, high-performance delivery.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Product, Design, Innovation, Materials, Sourcing, and Operations to enable seamless, efficient, and forward-thinking product creation.
• Ensure commercial readiness and scalability of the apparel portfolio, championing product execution that meets margin, quality, and innovation goals.
• Translate creative direction into executable product frameworks, ensuring collections are technically sound, fit-accurate, and financially viable without compromising brand identity.
• Own the execution of On’s sustainability targets within Product Development, embedding circular design principles, sustainable material usage, and responsible construction methods into processes and practices.
• Be a strong commercial and technical voice at the leadership table, ensuring product development decisions are rooted in business reality while enabling creative ambition and future growth.
• Attract, develop, and retain top talent, building an inclusive, high-performing team culture that supports personal and professional growth at all levels.
• Develop future leaders within the development team, with succession planning, mentoring, and coaching as part of the leadership DNA.
• Monitor industry, technology, and supply chain trends to ensure the team and processes remain ahead of the curve, scalable, and ready for the future.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, and resilience, helping the team navigate ambiguity, scale with clarity, and collaborate with trust.

Your Story

• 14+ years of experience in apparel product development, with significant time spent in senior leadership roles overseeing multi-category or global teams.
• Proven success in building and implementing long-term product and team strategies in alignment with broader business or brand goals.
• Strong track record in translating creative design into high-quality, commercially successful products, especially within technical or performance-driven apparel.
• Deep understanding of fit engineering, construction, costing, manufacturing, and product lifecycle management.
• Experience leading organizations to meet or exceed sustainability and innovation targets, with a strong understanding of sustainable materials, supply chain practices, and compliance standards.
• Inspirational people leader with a history of building and scaling teams, developing leaders, and nurturing inclusive, values-driven cultures.
• Commercially savvy, with experience owning margin targets and development strategies across multiple seasons and categories.
• Skilled cross-functional collaborator with the ability to influence at all levels-from tactical execution to executive strategy.
• Strong communicator with the ability to simplify complexity, foster alignment, and drive organizational clarity.
• Fluent in English; additional languages (particularly Mandarin or German) are a plus.
• Willingness to travel globally as needed to support team and supplier operations.

Meet The Team

We are engineers that steer ideas into reality. Development is a mindset, not a department - and every team member is empowered to make decisions, with the understanding that failure is part of the learning process. As an integrated function in the design and briefing process; we are detail, execution and solution-oriented - guiding products with tight timelines and the highest possible product quality, both on the shelf and in use.

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.