On Lead - Footwear Testing

Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. We ensure every product delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world insight. As Footwear Testing Lead, you will be responsible for validating footwear products from development through to market. You’ll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and act as a key partner across Design, Development, Materials, and Sports Science to ensure excellence in fit, comfort, durability, and performance.

Your Mission

• Lead qualitative and quantitative footwear testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure products reflect authentic athlete and consumer needs.
• Identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, owning the end-to-end testing process.
• Define and execute testing strategies across durability, fit, comfort, and performance, including high-complexity testing programs.
• Integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into standardised, evidence-based product evaluations.
• Translate testing results into insights that enable confident decision-making and elevate product excellence across the organisation.
• Analyse fit, durability, and performance data, developing clear reports and insights for project stakeholders.
• Conduct performance analyses independently or in close collaboration with Sports Science, presenting findings and improvement recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Deliver benchmarking and competitor insights to identify opportunities for innovation and product differentiation.
• Establish efficient testing processes, timelines, and feedback loops aligned with Product Creation calendars.
• Build and maintain a tester network that supports testing needs and project timelines.
• Work with testing systems and databases to ensure accurate, high-quality data and optimised reporting flows.
• Set up testing events and initiatives to drive engagement within the testing community.
• Contribute to team goals, process improvements, and the continuous evolution of testing methodologies.

Your Story

• 7+ years of experience in footwear testing or a closely related role within the footwear industry.
• Strong passion for performance footwear.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence working with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented, creative, and solutions-focused, with a proactive mindset.
• Comfortable working with flexibility and outside standard hours when needed.
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint; fluent in English (written and spoken).

Meet The Team

We’re responsible for ensuring every On product meets the highest quality standards. Through rigorous testing and validation, only products that truly perform make it to market.

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.