Senior Lead - Footwear Materials

Location: Zurich

Footwear Product Creation

In short
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We are seeking a Senior Lead \- Footwear Materials to lead one of our footwear categories. This role is responsible for executing material strategies, leading the team, and driving cross\-functional collaboration to support performance, sustainability, and innovation across multiple footwear verticals, including Performance All Day, Special Projects, and Collaborations.

Reporting to the Head of Materials, you will lead material development initiatives, oversee a team of specialists, and collaborate with Design, Development, Product Management, and Sustainability teams to ensure materials meet performance, quality, cost, and sustainability requirements.

Your Mission
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• Material Strategy \& Development: Lead the sourcing and development of footwear materials aligned with performance requirements, development timelines, sourcing policies, and sustainability goals.


• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop Footwear Material Specialists, fostering skill growth, collaboration, and long\-term team development.


• Sustainability \& Performance Alignment: Translate sustainability roadmap targets into actionable material development priorities across product categories.


• Data \& Process Optimization: Leverage data to guide material selection and supply chain decisions. Continuously improve workflows to increase efficiency, manage cost, and enhance material quality and sustainability performance.


• Innovation \& Research: Monitor industry trends, supplier innovations, and new technologies, integrating relevant developments into material strategies and product applications.


• Material Library \& Tools: Develop and maintain material libraries and tools for inline and special projects, with a focus on supplier partnerships, short lead times, and digital evolution of material management.


• Quality Management: Ensure materials meet quality standards and testing requirements. Collaborate with suppliers and internal quality teams to refine testing protocols and implement material improvements.


• Stakeholder \& Supplier Collaboration: Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers, vendors, and internal teams, ensuring alignment across Design, Product Development, Innovation, and Sustainability functions.

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Footwear Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.


• Minimum 10 years of experience in performance footwear material development, including direct collaboration with Asia\-based suppliers and factories.


• At least 3 years of experience leading and developing teams of specialists.


• Strong understanding of performance materials, industry processes, best practices, and innovation pipelines, with experience leading initiatives from concept to production.


• Global experience working with suppliers, T1 factories, and external partners, with willingness to travel internationally as required.


• Proven ability to manage complex projects across multiple stakeholders and timelines.


• Solid understanding of footwear design, construction, and performance technology, with knowledge of material trends and applications.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to present strategies and align diverse stakeholders.


• Structured, detail\-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast\-paced, cross\-functional environment.


• Demonstrated ability to navigate significant change, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and solution\-oriented approach to complex challenges.

The Footwear Materials team develops and delivers the company’s sustainability strategy for footwear materials. The team conducts research, defines material strategies, and supports projects that advance more sustainable materials, products, and processes. The team works closely with cross\-functional partners to embed material sustainability priorities into footwear creation, with a strong focus on effective communication and knowledge sharing.

As Senior Lead, you will manage and develop the Footwear Materials team while ensuring effective collaboration across the global footwear creation organization. You will guide material strategy execution, foster innovation, and support alignment across Design, Product Development, Product Management, Innovation, and Sustainability teams.

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
Ernest
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Footwear Development, Ho Chi Minh City

Unlike other brands, we aren't just executioners out here in Vietnam, we give ideas as well. Sometimes they have a new idea in Zurich and we might find a process to make it more efficient and we share that.
What we offer
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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
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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.

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