At On, Product Testing is the voice of our consumers and athletes. It ensures that every product delivers a premium quality experience and meets the highest standards of excellence across footwear, apparel, and accessories. We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader who can elevate and expand our testing organization into a world-class, multi-category discipline

Your Mission

• Define and lead the global product testing strategy across footwear, apparel, and accessories
• Ensure that every product meets premium quality benchmarks and the highest standards of excellence
• Build and scale a global testing ecosystem, including brand to factory calibration, external partnerships, and internal lab excellence
• Modernise the testing experience with digital tools, predictive analytics, and data-driven insights that strengthen decision-making and speed to market
• Establish and continuously evolve new lab standards and dynamic durability test methods that predict consumer and athlete usage
• Partner closely with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, integrating learnings into creation and testing processes to reduce failure and improve consumer experience and happiness
• Elevate testing into a strategic partner for product creation, ensuring excellence at every milestone
• Shape and deliver the multi-category testing roadmap in alignment with On’s strategic priorities. Guide the team through complex, high-impact global initiatives. Act as the voice of quality and excellence in leadership discussions
• Develop and validate advanced test methods with the sports science lab, including dynamic durability standards and new protocols tailored to athlete needs. Oversee rigorous global test programs to ensure durability, functionality, and consumer trust. Translate results into clear, actionable recommendations for design, development, and innovation
• Partner with design, development, and innovation to embed testing early in the creation process. Drive synergies between footwear, apparel, and accessories testing to ensure consistency and scalability. Build strong networks of athletes and testers to reflect real-world performance needs
• Work hand-in-hand with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, identify root causes of failure, and feed insights back into creation and testing processes. Use this data to continuously raise quality standards, reduce defects, and elevate the consumer experience
• Lead the digital transformation of testing through platforms, dashboards, and predictive systems. Continuously improve reporting and communication so that insights accelerate decision-making without compromising quality
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, diverse & global team with a culture anchored in excellence and accountability. Foster global tester communities, elevating engagement and loyalty as a strategic differentiator

Your story

• 10+ years of experience in product testing, performance validation, or biomechanics across footwear, apparel, and accessories
• Background in engineering, materials science, sports science, or a related technical field
• Proven leadership of global testing functions in cross-category, innovation-driven environments
• Expertise in developing dynamic durability and real-world performance test methods
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment (e.g., Instron, force plates, motion capture) and wear testing protocols
• Strong knowledge of ISO/ASTM standards and creation of custom test procedures
• Skilled in applying data-driven tools, predictive analytics, and digital platforms to accelerate decision-making
• Experience integrating consumer insights, warranty data, and lab results into product improvements
• Track record of building high-performing, cross-functional teams across geographies
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence product creation, R&D, and executive stakeholders

You will lead and inspire a global team of testers and specialists across footwear, apparel, and accessories. Within this team sits the dedicated function responsible for defining new lab standards and dynamic test methods, ensuring that On sets the industry benchmark for performance testing. Together, your team combines technical expertise, athlete engagement, and consumer insight to validate premium quality and ensure that only products meeting the highest standards of excellence reach our customers

Just by the banks of the Limmat you’ll find our largest global hub in Zürich West – On Labs – where you can hike up 12 floors through our custom-built spiral trail

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
• 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

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

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

You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role