Head of Product Brand, Performance Running

On; Zürich; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

On is seeking a senior leader to own the business strategy for a premier portfolio of Product Franchises, driving commercial targets and elevating brand credibility among runners and retail partners.

You will work at the intersection of Product, Marketing, Commercial, and Athlete strategies to ensure exceptional experiences and sustainably managed product lifecycles, with a focus on go-to-market excellence and regional adaptation.

Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years in brand mgmt, GTM, product management, or strategy.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a category plan to establish On as the world’s leading running brand.
• Own business plans and financial targets for a dedicated footwear portfolio.
• Lead cross-functional reviews and communicate performance metrics to key stakeholders.
• Collaborate on product vision and lifecycle management with Product Management.
• Partner with Marketing to craft franchise narratives and align regional assortments.
• Coordinate with Commercial teams and regional merchandisers for optimal product mix.
• Work with DTC to deliver premium omnichannel experiences for runners.

Skills

Brand management

Go-to-market

Product management

Strategy

Leadership

MS Office

English communication

Job description

In Short

On has the ambition to become the leading global running brand. In this role, you will directly contribute to defining and realizing that vision. You will own the business strategy for a premier portfolio of Product Franchises, driving commercial objectives while elevating On's brand credibility within the running community.

You will work at the intersection of Product, Marketing, Commercial, and Athlete strategies to ensure we deliver exceptional experiences to runners and retail partners alike.

Your Mission

• Strategic Leadership: Leading a cross-functional team of experts across Product, Marketing, Commercial, and Athlete strategy teams to define and execute a category plan that establishes On as the world’s leading running brand.
• Commercial Ownership: Own the business plan and financial targets for a dedicated footwear portfolio, leading different franchises.
• Business Performance: Drive franchise growth, track financial targets, and regularly communicate performance metrics and actionable insights to key stakeholders in business reviews (e.g., MBR, QBR)
• Product Alignment: Lead the product vision and positioning with Product Management to optimize the product tree, deploying a deep understanding of the underlying consumer segments to maximize reach while ensuring efficiency and sustainable product lifecycles.
• Brand Storytelling: Partner with Marketing Strategy to craft inspiring franchise narratives that resonate deeply with runners, and work with Apparel/Accessories teams to build cohesive, head-to-toe consumer stories.
• Commercial & Regional Strategy: Align with Commercial teams and regional merchandisers to deliver optimal product assortments across diverse distribution channels, adapting franchise personalities to regional needs.
• Omnichannel Experience: Partner with DTC (Retail and Digital) to provide premium, seamless experiences for runners exploring your franchises.
• Community & Influence: Collaborate with Athlete Strategy and Global Partnerships to amplify brand credibility, and cultivate strong relationships with running communities to enhance cultural relevance.
• Go-To-Market Excellence: Lead process excellence across the product creation calendar and GTM strategy, ensuring deadlines are met for the sales† season.
• Retail Presentation: Represent the brand at strategic key account previews, pre-lines, and sell-in events.
• Operational Management: Maintain key product documents, tools, and communications for the product strategy pod with a high level of attention to detail.

Your Story

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in brand management, go-to-market (GTM), product management, or strategy ideally within the running or sportswear industry.
• Market Expertise: Deep understanding of the global running market, with the ability to interpret consumer insights across both sports performance and fashion products.
• Leadership & Influence: Strong presentation and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of influencing and leading cross-functional teams. Ability to engage across the spectrum of the organization, including senior leadership.
• Mindset: Highly independent, solution-oriented, and driven by a positive, proactive work ethic.
• Skills: Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills. Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and a quick adaptability to new systems.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Travel: Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as required.

Your Team

As the Product Strategy team, we’re responsible for managing product creation to facilitate go to market efforts; concept to consumer. Our cross functional interaction is driven by a consumer-focused mindset to ensure we create a product line that sells in and through.

What We Offer

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.