Senior Lead - Construction, EMEA

In short

This role is a 1 year fixed-term contract / maternity cover - optionally, converting into a permanent role.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Lead - Construction, EMEA, to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of On's EMEA Real Estate & Development team. Based in our headquarters in Zurich, you will be instrumental in delivering exceptional Retail & Wholesale as well as Workplace projects that reflect On's innovative spirit and brand vision.

As a Senior Lead - Construction, EMEA, you will be a strategic and hands-on leader, responsible for the end-to-end execution of high-profile, regional projects focused on the growing footprint of On physical environments. You will manage, tutor and mentor a team of Development Managers through all phases of development, from initial feasibility studies to construction oversight and final handover, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

Your Mission

• Spearhead Retail, Wholesale, Franchise, Showroom and Workplace development projects: Lead the end-to-end execution of all On's construction within the EMEA Region, ensuring alignment with On's brand vision and strategic objectives.

• Shape the Future of DTC, B2B & On Labs: Contribute to the strategic vision of On's real estate portfolio, translating concepts into tangible, innovative, and inspiring spaces.

• Drive Project Excellence: Oversee all phases of development, with strong focus in construction, from initial feasibility studies and design development to construction management and final handover, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

• Cultivate Stakeholder Collaboration: Foster strong partnerships with internal teams, external consultants, architects, contractors, and local authorities, ensuring alignment and effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

• Champion Operational Efficiency: Implement and manage efficient project management processes, including scheduling, budgeting, risk mitigation, and vendor management, to optimize project delivery and resource allocation.

• Ensure Quality and Compliance: Guarantee adherence to building codes, safety regulations, and On's design specifications, conducting thorough quality control checks throughout the project lifecycle.

• Foster Innovation and Sustainability: Integrate innovative design solutions and sustainable practices into development projects, contributing to On's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Your story

• Seasoned Project Leader: You possess min. 10+ years of experience in managing complex architecture and construction projects, including retail, workplace, or other intricate developments. You have a proven track record of directly managing bidding and negotiation with contractors, ensuring competitive pricing and successful project execution. You have mentored and led store development teams for EMEA.

• Project Management Expertise: You demonstrate a strong ability to manage projects from inception to completion, encompassing all aspects from defining scope and managing resources to mitigating risks and ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.

• Innovation and Adaptability: You thrive in environments that push boundaries and embrace new approaches. You are comfortable working on "groundbreaking" projects for the brand, demonstrating a willingness to explore innovative solutions and adapt to evolving circumstances.

• Critical Thinker and Problem-Solver: You possess sharp analytical skills, enabling you to assess information, identify challenges, and develop creative solutions. You excel at synthesizing diverse requests and finding common ground among stakeholders.

• Design Advocate: You have a strong appreciation for design and understand how to maintain high design standards throughout the project lifecycle. You recognize the importance of premium design in reflecting On's brand identity.

• Organized and Efficient: You possess exceptional organizational skills, enabling you to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and maintain meticulous records.

• Team Player: You are a collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic environment. You actively contribute to team goals, share knowledge, support colleagues, and foster a positive and productive work atmosphere.

• Excellent Communicator: You are fluent in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in another language is an advantage, particularly German, given primary projects at OnLabs in Zurich.

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.