Head of Footwear Design Special Projects

On; Zürich; Presencial; CHF 140.000 - 200.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

On, a leading sports and lifestyle brand, seeks a Head of Footwear Design for Special Projects. You will set the creative vision, drive design direction for limited-edition collaborations, and mentor a high-performing team of footwear and CMF designers.

Your role blends cultural insight with cutting-edge technology to elevate On's product language globally. You will translate trends and consumer shifts into market-ready concepts, guide early exploration with innovation partners, and ensure

Formación

• 10+ years leading footwear design pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of CMF (Color, Material, Finish) and construction.
• Fluent in English.
• Experience with limited-edition collaborations and partnerships.

Responsabilidades

• Lead end-to-end creative direction for all footwear initiatives within Special Projects.
• Translate global cultural insights into compelling design languages for On's footwear.
• Steer early-stage concept exploration and integrate proprietary technologies.
• Lead, coach and develop a multidisciplinary Footwear and CMF design team.

Conocimientos

Footwear design leadership

Brand storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

CMF design

Visionary concept development

Herramientas

3D visualization tools

Generative AI tools

Descripción del empleo

In short

The Head of Footwear Design - Special Projects sets the creative vision and design direction for On's most progressive footwear concepts, limited-edition partnerships, and cultural collaborations. Leading a high-performing team of footwear and CMF designers, you translate cultural intelligence and avant-garde thinking into groundbreaking, commercially viable products that push the boundaries of footwear design.

Your work elevates brand heat and expands On's design language across the global sports and lifestyle landscape.

Your Mission

• Lead the end-to-end creative direction and aesthetic vision for all footwear initiatives within Special Projects, delivering forward-facing design concepts that bring heat to the On brand.
• Translate global cultural insights, macro trends, and consumer shifts into compelling, commercially viable design languages that elevate On's footwear portfolio.
• Steer early-stage concept exploration in collaboration with innovation teams, integrating proprietary technologies into limited-edition and pinnacled executions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of Footwear and CMF Designers, fostering an environment of creative exploration, experimentation, and design excellence.
• Establish team workflows, design standards, and creative benchmarks, empowering designers to take calculated risks and execute with precision.
• Drive the adoption of next-generation design methodologies, including 3D visualization and AI-assisted creation tools, to optimize workflows and expand exploratory capabilities.
• Drive alignment across Product Management, Footwear Development, and Innovation to guide projects seamlessly from initial ideation to market-ready reality.
• Act as the senior design authority in external partner relationships, co-creating with collaborators while safeguarding On’s aesthetic integrity and brand standards.
• Represent Special Projects design at strategic partner sessions, milestone reviews, and industry events to champion design choices and amplify On’s presence.

Your Story

• You hold a background as an expert in Footwear Design & Concept Creation, possessing a strong drive for Creative Direction & Brand Storytelling.
• 10+ years of experience leading design pipelines and driving world-class products, with a proven track record of setting direction and developing creative talent in global environments.
• Deep knowledge in Footwear Construction & Technical Feasibility, successfully balancing aesthetic vision with technical innovation.
• Advanced expertise in CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Design & Craftsmanship with a passion for elevated product executions.
• Strong digital design capabilities and generative AI fluency, always exploring new tools to expand creative workflows and team capabilities.
• Exceptional strategic decision-making skills and an analytic approach to navigating complex collaborative structures and external partner relationships.
• You thrive as a senior leader in cross-functional environments, collaboratively engaging with internal teams and external creatives to co-create boundary-pushing concepts.
• Fluent in English both written and spoken.

Attributes of a successful candidate

• Innovation (Expert): You push the boundaries of design, bringing revolutionary concepts to life and redefining the creative envelope.
• Delivering Excellence (Expert): You demand and deliver the highest standards of craftsmanship, ensuring design integrity is maintained from concept to creation.
• Setting Direction (Advanced): You define clear creative pathways, inspiring your team and external partners to align with a singular, powerful vision.
• Strategic Decision-Making (Advanced): You effectively balance brand identity, commercial viability, and creative risk to navigate complex projects.
• Collaboration & Developing Talent (Advanced): You foster a culture of mutual respect and learning, empowering your designers and external collaborators to co-create effectively.

Your Team

We shape how you step into tomorrow.

It all comes down to a feeling for the Footwear Design team. Our ideation process starts with an intended sensation for running, training, trekking, tennis or everyday movement. Then, we integrate the right technologies to make it happen. From the first spark of an idea to the final prototype, we work quickly and collaboratively to deliver footwear that inspires.

Within this environment, you will lead the Special Projects Design team—a highly specialized group of footwear and CMF designers focused on culture, limited-edition partnerships, and avant-garde thinking. Together, you translate cultural movements and cutting-edge aesthetics into highly desirable product concepts that elevate On's global brand heat and unlock new dimensional opportunities for the entire brand.

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.