Director Of Innovation Management & Strategy

In short

Join On’s Footwear Innovation team as the Director of Innovation Management, where you will lead a dynamic group of technology-affine business developers and technical project managers. Your mission will be to amplify the impact of product innovation by strategically managing the innovation portfolio, process, and long-term vision. This role focuses on leading the Innovation Management team, driving active visioning and strategy creation, and ensuring that our innovation initiatives—from "Big Bets" to our iconic technology franchises—are translated into impactful realities for On.

We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Director of Innovation Management to lead a critical function within our Innovation department. This role is pivotal in ensuring our innovation efforts are strategically focused, efficiently executed, and prioritized across the organization. You will lead a team of talented professionals to maximize the impact of innovation at On, utilizing a strong foundational understanding of technology and material science to guide the strategic direction of our portfolio and technology brand franchises.

Your Mission

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for Innovation Management, including active visioning and strategy creation, aligning with On's overarching business objectives.
• Lead and mentor the Innovation Management team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement in innovation processes and strategic portfolio alignment.
• Act as the primary link between Innovation and the rest of the company to ensure strategic cohesion.

Innovation Management Leadership:

• Ensure Innovation initiatives are strategically aligned with On's overall goals and priorities.
• Oversee the management of the Innovation Portfolio, including prioritization, resource allocation, and progress tracking.
• Serve as the PMO for "Big Bet" Innovation projects, ensuring high-impact initiatives are executed with excellence.
• Lead the continuous improvement and operational excellence of the end-to-end innovation process.
• Develop and implement frameworks and tools to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation activities.

Strategic Technology Alignment:

• Manage specific tech brand franchises and oversee the technology roll-out for key innovations such as Superfoam, CloudTec®, and New Propulsion Tech.
• Ensure the successful identification and evaluation of new technologies and materials that provide a competitive advantage.
• Oversee the strategic technology roadmap, ensuring workstreams are prioritized based on strategic alignment and potential impact.
• Collaborate with all technical teams to ensure a smooth horizontal transition of innovations into the product organization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with all teams in the product organization to ensure alignment and effective collaboration on innovation initiatives.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels regarding the innovation portfolio, processes, and technology roadmap.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring optimal utilization.

Your story

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Innovation Management, or a related field.
• Proven track record of leadership for +10 years in an innovation management or product strategy function, preferably within the sportswear or a similar consumer-facing industry.
• Strong foundational understanding of technologies and material science to effectively evaluate innovation potential and manage tech franchises.
• Deep understanding of innovation processes, portfolio management, and operational excellence principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams and drive strategic visioning.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• A strong interest in sports, technology, sustainability, and innovation.

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.

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.