Lead - Color & Material Designer

Location: Zurich

Product Design

In short
------------

At On, our Material Design team is central to defining the intersection of performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. We are looking for a Lead \- Material Designer to join us here at On. In this role you will be responsible for setting the material design vision, driving innovation, and ensuring excellence across product categories.

Materials are a key expression of our brand—shaping how products perform, feel, and connect emotionally with consumers. As a Lead Material Designer, you combine deep technical expertise with a strong creative point of view to guide the development of material strategies and narratives at a global level. You lead and inspire teams, influence product direction, and translate cultural, technological, and sustainability insights into forward\-thinking material solutions that define On’s future.

Your Mission
----------------

• Material Strategy Leadership – Define and drive the long\-term material design vision across categories, aligning with brand, product strategy, and business goals


• Seasonal Direction Setting – Own and lead seasonal material briefs, ensuring clarity, innovation, and alignment with commercial, sustainability, and margin targets


• Creative Direction \& Storytelling – Establish strong, differentiated material narratives that elevate product storytelling and reinforce brand identity


• Material Innovation – Lead the exploration and integration of new materials, technologies, and finishes, pushing boundaries in performance and sustainability


• Material Development Oversight – Guide and challenge the development of engineered materials and constructions, ensuring design intent is realized at the highest level


• Materialways \& Feasibility Leadership – Ensure material proposals are both visionary and executable, grounded in manufacturing expertise and scalability


• Material Systems \& Efficiency – Oversee material mapping and library strategy to drive consistency, efficiency, and scalability across product lines


• Cross\-Functional Leadership – Act as a key partner and decision\-maker across Footwear Design, Color, Development, and Product Strategy teams


• Color \& Material Integration – Lead the integration of color and material strategies from concept through execution


• Stakeholder Influence – Present and communicate material strategies and concepts at a senior level, driving alignment and key decisions


• Team Leadership \& Mentorship – Lead, mentor, and develop Material Designers, fostering growth, creativity, and high performance within the team


• Culture \& Innovation Driver – Champion a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team and across functions


• Trend \& Insight Leadership – Translate macro trends, cultural movements, and advancements in materials into actionable design direction


• External Awareness – Maintain strong awareness of industry developments, suppliers, and emerging technologies to keep On at the forefront


• Inspiration Direction – Oversee and elevate the team’s approach to inspiration, ensuring a forward\-looking and relevant creative pipeline

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Product Design, or a related field


• 8–10\+ years of experience in footwear or performance product design, with deep expertise in Material Design


• Proven track record of leading material direction and delivering innovative, commercially successful products


• Strong expertise in material construction, manufacturing processes, and performance requirements


• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and influence cross\-functional stakeholders at multiple levels


• Strategic mindset with the ability to connect creative vision to business impact


• Advanced proficiency in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, PLM); 3D capabilities are a strong plus


• Deep commitment to sustainability, with experience driving responsible material strategies at scale


• Strong understanding of competitive landscape, consumer insights, and market dynamics


• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills


• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus

Our Color and Materials Team is a key driver of On’s global product expression and innovation. As a Lead, you play a critical role in shaping not only the output of the team but also its direction, culture, and impact. We bring together diverse expertise across color, materials, and design to create meaningful, high\-performance product experiences. Through a highly collaborative and forward\-thinking approach, we push boundaries, challenge conventions, and define the future of our brand.

Zürich

Just by the banks of the Limmat you’ll find our largest global hub in Zürich West – On Labs – where you can hike up 12 floors through our custom\-built spiral trail.

Förrlibuckstrasse 190,

8005

Switzerland

Location
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.

• ### Step One

It starts with you...

You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role. We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. If you're a good fit to the role, a recruiter will follow up with you directly. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.

• ### Step Two

Interview with a recruiter

What ignites your spirit? This is where we’ll start getting to know all about you and what makes you tick – and it’s your first chance to get a feel for our culture. Chatting with a member of our talent team, you’ll learn more about On and how we work. We’ll learn about what motivates you and what you could bring to the team.

• ### Step Three

Interview with a hiring manager

Ready to dig into the details? This second interview will be held with your future manager and will focus on the specifics of the job. Together you’ll delve into your unique skills and experiences and how they could be relevant at On. It's also a time to assess how you might feel working side\-by\-side. Bring any questions you have about the job, the team or anything else you might like to know – this is an open forum.

• ### Step Four

The Case Study

What's your style? This task will help us understand how you think, face a challenge and give insight into your novel ideas. Designed to give everyone their best shot, your case study is based on something you might typically experience on the job. This is your chance to show us what you’ve got. So express yourself. Be you.

• ### Step Five

The Experience Day

Your first taste of the Oniverse. This is a time to meet some of the people you'll be working closest with. In person or virtually, you'll get a feel for the day\-to\-day at On and the people who make it happen. You'll chat with a few potential teammates \- the conversations will be as equally driven by the role and your experience as by our values. We believe how you do things is just as important as what you do.

• ### Step Six

The Result

Are we a good fit? We’ll get together internally to share our feedback and decide if we’re a match. We know that job searching is a big time investment, so it’s not a decision we take lightly. It’s also time for you to reflect on the experience – are we the right place for you? No matter the outcome, we’ll give you meaningful feedback.

Diese Anzeige stammt von indeed. Originalanzeige ansehen ↗