Senior Lead - Footwear Testing

In short

Please note: Due to the temporary nature of this maternity cover position, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in Switzerland without requiring visa sponsorship. This includes individuals with EU/EFTA citizenship or a valid Swiss work permit.

At On we see Product Testing as the voice of our consumers who meticulously evaluate each product to ensure each user has a rich and long lasting product experience. The ultimate Product experience means everything to us so we need a visionary leader who is passionate about sport, understands functional movement patterns and is acutely aware of biomechanics and global foot anthropometry. As a Testing Lead Footwear, you will play a key role in determining the global testing strategy and guiding the team in their rigorous quality examinations of our new products coming to market through highly collaborative partnerships with athletes and testers. You will work in an environment where we make ideas happen fast, decide quickly and give high levels of responsibility. This role will be based in our Zürich Lab.

Your Mission

• Drive the overall On Footwear Strategy, setting up and/or improving processes to ensure world class testing standards are adhered to.
• Lead a global team of footwear Testing Specialists
• Set us up for durable growth by building our global testing conditions and standards by creating robust partnerships, regional calibration, operating frameworks and procedures.
• Execute all aspects of footwear testing, including planning, conducting tests, analyzing data, collecting insights, writing reports, delivering presentations and program management.
• Develop a strong caring partnership program with our testers to ensure we have the best brand x tester relationship in the industry
• Make sure the team delivers in-depth feedback to product stakeholders both during testing and after tests are completed
• Work closely with the whole product creation team (product POD) to ensure that high quality and correct feedback on test products are delivered in an efficient and timely manner.
• Act as main point of contact with the leadership team within the Footwear Product Creation area. Main focus is PAD, SMU/Special products, Kids and Local testing at development factories.
• Lead, mentor and guide a team of professional testing specialists who have the knowledge to influence decision making regarding material, component and construction options to meet the product’s performance goals.
• Drive synergies between footwear, apparel and accessories testing
• Partner with sports science lab to develop and validate test methods specific to the movement expectations of the product
• Partner with our athlete team to develop test standards that are the best for the athlete
• Develop strong technical, anthropometrical and biomechanical understanding of the competitor landscape
• Modernise user experience, communication and reporting by developing efficient technology solutions in partnership with our operations and IT teams.

Your story

• 5+ years of experience in the athletic footwear industry.
• 5+ years of experience in analysing data, collecting insights, writing reports, delivering presentations and overall program management
• 5+ years of experience within the function of Footwear testing, fitting and/or development
• Excellent leadership skills, comfortable leading a professional testing team, ability in people management.
• Ability to work well at Leadership level and collaborate with key stakeholders in the product team and beyond.
• A Can-Do attitude and the ability to work with a high degree of flexibility.
• Ability to work outside of typical working hours when necessary.
• Available to travel internationally
• Detailed oriented and analytic mind: ability to create a plan and follow timelines, but also to think creatively and outside the box.
• Fluent in English
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Management, Engineering or related field of study.

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. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. 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. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.